The Los Angeles Lakers added seven new faces after LeBron James's offseason departure.  

Entering head coach JJ Redick's third year at the helm (103-61 record), the burden of carrying the franchise forward now largely rests on Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, with the latter playing a key role in helping the newcomers settle in. 

Donning the iconic purple and gold uniform comes with a heavy weight and certain non-negotiable expectations. Redick is upholding them on the sidelines, becoming the first Lakers coach since Phil Jackson to post back-to-back 50-win seasons.

Reaves has yet to win an NBA championship with the team; however, after fighting his way from an undrafted prospect to a star over the last five years in Los Angeles, he knows what it takes to perform at the required level. 

"I don't know anything else; this is what I came into," he said after the Lakers' 121-106 preseason defeat to the Denver Nuggets on Friday. 

Reaves was asked what he is doing to make it easier for the new guys to embrace the Laker way. 

He emphasized that he's not worried about any of his new teammates' ability to handle the pressure. However, he is always there when they need him. 

"This is one of the most covered sports organizations in the world. [You'll] get praised when you're good and not when you're not," Reaves said. "Whatever goes on outside of these walls doesn't really matter... If anybody has any questions, I'll give them the best knowledge I have. 

"But they're high-character guys who care about the right things, so I think that will take care of itself." 

Character matters a ton in a game where the mental side often determines the outcome. Talent will only take you so far. 

Reaves is one of the best examples of that. His story shows that it doesn't matter whether you get drafted. Of course, you have to be good. But it's largely about how much you want it. 

Plenty of big names have failed to live up to the billing under the Lakers' spotlight. Reaves overcame the odds and now expects those alongside him to do the same. 

Though he is under contract with the Lakers through 2029-30 on a four-year, $180 million deal, the 28-year-old is not yet a finished product. 

Reaves' future is secure, but the Lakers will need more from him if they want to hang banner No. 18 in their gym. 

Naturally, removing a figure like LeBron from the equation will only increase the pressure on Reaves this year. The lights can still get brighter. How will he respond? 

The early signs are promising, but some creases still need ironing out. 

The Lakers went 2-3 in the preseason, with Reaves appearing in three games. He averaged 18.3 points and six assists per game, shooting 47.2 percent from the field. 

The concerns? Turnovers and three-point shooting. 

As one of the primary ball handlers, a six-to-five assists-to-turnovers ratio simply won't fly. The Lakers can't live with that. And his 29.4 percent from beyond the arc, while on limited volume, will also need to improve. 

In most sports careers, everyone works to become the go-to person one day, players and coaches. Well, along with Doncic, it's Reaves' time to shine in the City of Angels now, starting Wednesday, when the Lakers host the Golden State Warriors in their regular-season opener.