Austin Reaves knows how to get Luka Doncic fired up and he’s willing to go to extreme lengths to ensure the Lakers superstar plays well.
Reaves has thought about hiring fans to talk trash to Doncic throughout games in order to awaken the Slovenian beast inside.
“I’ve thought about paying people in the stands to just talk crazy to him because he goes to that different level,” Reaves said to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated.
The Lakers have officially kicked off a new era in Los Angeles with Doncic at the helm and the squad enters the 2026-27 campaign with several question marks. How will Doncic acclimate to being the captain of the Lakers?
Can the Lakers be a playoff contender without LeBron James? Will the major roster overhaul by general manager Rob Pelinka pay off?
While many of these questions won’t be answered until the Lakers take the floor Opening Night, Doncic has already taken action in assuming his role as the leader of the team. For one, the entire roster traveled to Slovenia for a four-day minicamp hosted by Doncic.
The overseas trip was meant for the Lakers to get a feel for one another on court, but perhaps just as importantly, the team got to know one another on a personal level.
Getting to build a rapport with his teammates was important for Doncic and will certainly play a role with how the squad performs on the court together. The pressure heavily lands on the shoulders of Doncic for the Lakers’ success.
Thus, paying fans to talk trash might be Reaves’ solution to ensuring Doncic is at his best every single night.
