Austin Reeves believes the Lakers' defense will improve.

The Los Angeles Lakers will begin their preseason games next week to prepare for the 2026/27 NBA regular season. Austin Reeves stated that the team signed several very strong defensive players during the offseason, and therefore he believes the Lakers' defense will improve in the new season.

With LeBron James leaving the Los Angeles Lakers, JJ Redick will have a new task in terms of lineup arrangement, while Austin Reeves and Luka Doncic will have to take on more central roles.

When asked about training and playing with his new teammates, Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Austin Reeves said, "It's not easy to score against Matisse Thybulle and Zaire Williams, especially when there are help defenders behind them. I've been dealing with that kind of defense all day, and it's really not easy. So defensively, we'll definitely be a lot better than before."

“These players compete with all their might in every possession, and everyone else does their job and plays the right way. So, I can already see how special we can become. Zaire Williams’ physical gifts are simply extraordinary, his mobility is second to none, and he is one of the most athletic players in the league. As we often talk about, as he starts to think more about the game, he also asks a lot of questions, and he is eager to learn.”

Austin Reeves pointed out, "Kevin Rooney knows how to achieve his goals, and he will be one of the most important voices in the team. Everyone respects him a lot, and he will compete with all his might every day."

“I think our offense will be more fluid and won’t rely as much on isolation plays as before. It requires players to make shots and be in the right place at the right time.”

In addition, Austin Reeves said, "I want to win a lot of games, it's that simple. As for personal honors, I don't care at all, I just want to win."

Image source: Internet