Austin Reaves and LeBron James discuss the origins of the 2022 meme.
It has been more than four years since a video of LeBron James instructing a clearly puzzled Austin Reaves gained widespread attention online. On Monday, James and Steve Nash’s “Mind The Game” podcast released a segment featuring James and Reaves discussing the background of that moment.
The initial context of the video is clear: The Los Angeles Lakers were ahead of the Brooklyn Nets by 15 points with just over two minutes left in a January 2022 matchup in Brooklyn. According to Reaves and Nash, the score is sufficient to explain Reaves’ bewilderment.
“Why was Bron even in the game right now? It’s over,” Reaves recounted during the podcast.
Nash remarked: “We understand what he was thinking at that moment. He just told us. He’s going, ‘Why the f— is he still in the game discussing this right now, what are we doing? Sit down, we’ve completed the task, and you’re still coaching.'”
James provided a possible explanation for his continued presence on the court despite the game being nearly decided.
“I must have needed one rebound and one assist,” he stated. “That must have been it.”
“Why is Bron even in the game right now?” π
Austin Reaves and @KingJames clarify what transpired in Brooklyn. Tune in to AR’s episode TOMORROW. pic.twitter.com/PH3RjVhfaD
— Mind the Game (@mindthegamepod) March 23, 2026
Following the 2022 game, Reaves elaborated that the confusion arose from seeking clarification on a play that had been called.
“Coach had drawn up an ATO, and I asked [LeBron] a question I somewhat knew the answer to as I was going out, but just wanted confirmation, and then it turned into a significant miscommunication. I believed I was supposed to be on the weak side while they executed a play on the other side with him, AD, and Russ, and he thought I was involved, while I thought I wasn’t,” Reaves explained. “So when he informed me I was in, I was confused.”
Reaves also mentioned in the “Mind The Game” clip that James sharing the meme significantly boosted his social media following in the days that followed.
“I recall after he posted that, my followers skyrocketed from around 60,000 to 7 million,” Reaves said. “It was a ‘bing, bing, bing.’ We were in Philly, I was dining with Reg, and when I checked my phone, I just set it back down, thinking ‘I have no idea what’s happening.’
The video has only increased in popularity over timeβthis is not the first occasion Reaves has discussed its originsβand the Lakers shared a modified version of the meme earlier this year that also went viral.
Reaves is currently experiencing the best season of his career with the Lakers, averaging 23.5 points and 5.5 assists per game as Los Angeles competes for positioning in the Western Conference. The 41-year-old James continues to be productive, averaging 21.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 6.8 assists.
