How Austin Reaves unlocked LeBron James, Anthony Davis -- and the Lakers - ESPN

AUSTIN REAVES TURNS the corner out of the FedEx Forum visitors locker room, bounding down a back hallway after showering and getting dressed following an upset Game 1 first-round win against the Memphis Grizzlies. An hour prior, he was pounding his chest and proclaiming «I'm him!» after scoring nine straight points in the final minutes of the Lakers' 128-112 win.

As he walks, an influential set of eyes are fixed upon him.

LeBron James, fresh off his 175th career postseason win, is looking at the guy who just won his first. A few paces behind, James doesn't need to see Reaves' face to know that it is, indeed, him.

«This motherf---er,» James says, shaking his head in delight at the sight of Reaves' tousled brown hair, still damp from the shower, peeking out from his hoodie.

The second-year guard, undrafted out of Oklahoma and originally signed by L.A. to split his time between the G League and the Lakers on a two-way contract, had just dominated the Grizzlies with 14 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter. James happens to be in the middle of an interview about Reaves when who else but the 24-year-old comes into view.

«I don't give a f--- about, like, athleticism; how great you can shoot the ball; how high you can jump; how fast you can run,» James tells ESPN as he files out of the arena after Reaves. «I like high basketball IQ guys. Obviously, you got to have that s--- to win a championship. You got to have guys that can do extraordinary s---. But like, I've always had a liking to guys that just know how to play the f---ing game of basketball.»

Much like how the Lakers went from a 2-10 start this season to one of the hottest teams in the league heading into the playoffs, Reaves' ascent was steep. He played fewer minutes