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In one of the most unexpected moves of the 2025 NBA offseason, Austin Reaves, the once-prized guard of the Los Angeles Lakers, has inked a three-year deal with their archrivals—the Boston Celtics.

The news sent shockwaves through the basketball world, stirring both outrage and excitement as fans tried to digest the surreal reality: Reaves, a Laker fan-favorite, donning Celtic green. For Reaves, the decision wasn’t easy. A product of grit and underdog spirit, he had blossomed in Los Angeles, rising from an undrafted rookie to a key contributor. He had moments of brilliance—his clutch playoff performances, smooth mid-range pull-ups, and that intangible edge that made Lakers fans believe he was one of their own.

But when Boston called with not just money, but a vision, Reaves listened. “I’ve always respected the legacy here,” Reaves said at his introductory press conference, standing beside Celtics GM Brad Stevens and head coach Joe Mazzulla. “It’s never easy leaving a team that gave you your first shot.

But I’m here to win—and I believe I can do that in Boston.” What Boston offered wasn’t just a bigger contract. It was opportunity, role, and ambition. With Jrue Holiday moving into a more defensive veteran role and Derrick White testing free agency, the Celtics had a Reaves-sized gap in their starting lineup. Stevens made it clear: Reaves wasn’t coming to be a backup. He was coming to *lead*. Pairing with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Reaves rounded out a new-look Big Three with brains, craft, and hustle.

Critics immediately questioned the fit. “He’s a Laker. He bleeds purple and gold,” shouted talk show hosts. “This is betrayal.” But Celtics fans, wary at first, began warming up to the idea. “He plays hard,” one Boston fan said. “And honestly? Anyone who drops 25 on us in a playoff game deserves a look.” Training camp revealed a motivated, retooled Reaves. He played with an edge, bringing a toughness reminiscent of past Celtic guards like Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley.

But it wasn’t just effort—Reaves had added layers to his game. His off-ball movement became more surgical, his three-point shot more reliable, and his defense tighter, more physical. Word began circulating from within the organization: *This guy’s for real*. Opening night against—who else?—the Lakers, became a national event. The TD Garden was electric. Fans booed LeBron and chanted “Let’s Go Reaves!” every time he touched the ball.

Midway through the third quarter, with the score tight, Reaves spun off D’Angelo Russell, rose for a step-back jumper, and drained it over Anthony Davis. The crowd exploded. Cameras caught Tatum grinning and mouthing, “He’s one of us now.” Reaves finished with 27 points, 8 assists, and a plus-18 differential. More importantly, the Celtics won. By January, they were leading the Eastern Conference, and Reaves was averaging career highs across the board. He and Brown developed a telepathic on-court connection, while Tatum credited Reaves for relieving some of the offensive burden. By All-Star break, Reaves was no longer “the Laker who left.” He was “the Celtic who arrived.” ESPN ran a feature titled *Reaves: The Rival Who Switched Sides*, chronicling his transition from purple and gold to green and white. “I know what people said,” Reaves later admitted in a Players’ Tribune piece. “But I didn’t come here to be liked.

I came here to compete.” And compete he did. As the playoffs approached, one storyline began brewing louder than the rest: a potential Celtics-Lakers Finals. Reaves versus his past. Celtics versus history. The ultimate chapter in basketball’s most storied rivalry—with a new, unlikely protagonist at the heart of it.