The Los Angeles Lakers secured a 117-112 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, with Luka Doncic putting up 44 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists. However, it was what he said about Austin Reaves afterward that sparked conversation.
In the post-game press conference, the interviewer asked Doncic if averaging 40 points per game was sustainable, noting he was the first Laker to average 45 through three straight games since Kobe Bryant in 2007.
Doncic responded honestly about the difficulty of maintaining that pace, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
“That's gonna be tough, but like I said, sometimes they're gonna doubt me more. Sometimes I won't be able to score that much. And obviously I had some pretty, I think three, four shots that was crazy shots that I felt like doing, but they were terrible shots. So I gotta, like I said before, I gotta work on that, but that's tough, I don't know,” he said.
When the interviewer mentioned, “Austin said you could,” Doncic smiled and shot back: “Austin's stupid.”
Luka Doncic on if he can average 40 points per game this season:
“That’s going to be tough …”
I followed up by saying that Austin Reaves told me he thinks he could.
Luka, with a big smile: “Austin’s stupid.” pic.twitter.com/jnLjKfe4CE— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 1, 2025
The jab is just the latest exchange in their ongoing rivalry. After Doncic scored 49 against Minnesota but missed a free throw that would've given him 50, Reaves trolled him on Instagram with “Make a free throw.” Doncic fired back, telling him to “shut up.” Before Reaves' 51-point explosion against Sacramento, Doncic texted him, “I need 60 tonight,” challenging his teammate to go bigger.
After Reaves delivered that career night, Doncic called him the “GOAT” on social media. Reaves even joked after his buzzer-beating winner against Minnesota that he expected texts from both Doncic and LeBron saying “I suck” because he missed some shots.
With LeBron James sidelined due to sciatica issues, Doncic and Reaves have carried the offensive load together. Doncic is averaging 45.3 points through his first games this season, while Reaves strung together back-to-back 51 and 41-point performances. Their chemistry has become crucial in maintaining the team's competitiveness during this period.
Despite his incredible start, Doncic remains grounded about maintaining this production. He knows the shots won't always fall, and defenses will adjust as the season progresses. But having a teammate like Reaves who constantly challenges him, whether through texts, Instagram comments, or postgame conversations, keeps him motivated while maintaining the loose environment that helps him thrive.
