LOS ANGELES — Austin Reaves, the Los Angeles Lakers’ breakout guard, recently called LeBron James the “real leader” of the team, emphasizing the four-time NBA champion’s selfless play, basketball IQ and example-setting presence even as Luka Doncic has taken on the primary scoring and playmaking role.

In a post-game interview following the Lakers’ victory over the Chicago Bulls earlier this month, Reaves highlighted James’ adaptability after returning from a brief injury absence. “He’s one of the smartest guys to ever play the game of basketball,” Reaves said. “His ability to adapt and to figure out what the game needs is second to none. … When you got a player of that stature who’s willing to play the way the game needs him to play, that just shows how selfless he is and just is a leader by example for everybody in this locker room.”

The comments came as the Lakers navigated a shifting hierarchy following last season’s blockbuster trade that brought Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks. With Doncic establishing himself as the top option — often leading in points, assists and usage — and Reaves emerging as a reliable second scorer and ball-handler, James has willingly adjusted his role. Coach JJ Redick has engineered lineups that lower James’ usage to historic lows for the superstar, prioritizing Doncic and Reaves in pick-and-roll actions and late-game situations.

LeBron himself reinforced this dynamic after a recent win over the Houston Rockets, where Doncic dropped 40 points. “We have guys who have been in big games before. AR and Luka are two of our closers, and we just all try and sprinkle in, and do what we need to do defensively to help those guys out,” James told reporters. The statement aligned with reports that the Lakers are building “Dallas 2.0” around Doncic and Reaves long-term, though sources indicate both younger stars want James to remain beyond this season.

Reaves’ praise underscores James’ enduring influence despite the statistical shift. At 41, James averages 21.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 7.0 assists on 50.5% shooting this season, numbers that reflect efficiency over volume. Reaves pointed to specific moments against the Bulls: James setting screens, crashing for offensive rebounds (including an and-1) and finishing behind defenses — contributions that don’t always show in box scores but fuel team success.

The Lakers sit 41-25 as of mid-March 2026, holding fourth in the Western Conference and riding a strong stretch fueled by veteran buy-in. A $16 million role player has exemplified the selfless culture James promotes, contributing to a dominant run where the trio has found balance. Analysts note the team performs exceptionally when Doncic and Reaves share primary responsibilities, with James providing spacing, facilitation and defensive versatility.

Earlier concerns about lineup fit — ESPN’s Brian Windhorst once said the three together weren’t effective — have eased as synergies develop. Locked On Lakers discussions highlight how Reaves’ elevated on-ball role and James’ reduced usage create better spacing and fewer turnovers. Reaves has thrived in this setup, averaging 23.85 points, 4.78 rebounds and 5.5 assists across recent games, often excelling in Doncic-James absences (posting 44.3 PPG in three such contests last season).

James’ leadership extends beyond stats. Reaves has repeatedly called him the smartest player he’s played with, crediting daily joy, positivity and mentorship. In one instance, during a timeout, James declared “I’m not tired” — a moment Reaves cited as motivational. “LeBron said ‘I’m not tired’ … and that was enough,” Reaves recalled in a team huddle anecdote.

The dynamic has sparked debate about the future. Reports suggest the Lakers may move on from the James era post-season, focusing on Doncic and Reaves as cornerstones. Yet Reaves’ words affirm James’ locker-room stature. “Follow the leader,” he said in reference to James’ example, per recent reports.

As the playoffs approach, the Lakers’ success hinges on this balance. James’ willingness to sacrifice — accepting a third-option role in key stretches — has enabled Doncic’s dominance and Reaves’ growth. The guard’s public endorsement reinforces that leadership isn’t measured solely by touches or points but by impact, adaptability and team-first mentality.

With the season heating up, Reaves’ comments serve as a reminder: While Doncic drives the offense and Reaves provides secondary creation, James remains the guiding force in the Lakers’ locker room.

JEDDAH — King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED/OEJN), Saudi Arabia’s busiest gateway and a major hub for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, continues to operate with scheduled commercial flights on March 21, 2026, despite ongoing regional security challenges stemming from the escalating conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

Live flight tracking data from multiple sources, including the official airport website (kaia.sa), Flightradar24, FlightAware and Trip.com, confirm active arrivals and departures throughout the day. As of early morning local time (GMT+3), departures include long-haul services such as Saudia SV 976 to Hong Kong scheduled for 06:00, Flyadeal FAD 9118 to Abuja at 05:00 and Flynas XY 697 to Bishkek at 05:00. Arrivals feature routes from Nairobi (Saudia SV 948), Karachi (Airblue ABQ 170) and Berlin (Flynas XY 644), with many flights listed as on time or experiencing only minor delays.

The airport’s official flights page shows hundreds of scheduled operations, with real-time updates indicating low overall impact — around 2% disruption on recent days according to Wego tracking. FlightAware and FlightStats report dozens of arrivals and departures in the early hours, including international carriers like Turkish Airlines codeshares and regional low-cost operators. No blanket closure has been announced by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) or Jeddah Airports Company, which manages the facility.

A travel alert posted on the KAIA website urges passengers to “check directly with their airlines for the latest flight updates before leaving for the airport” due to “current developments.” The advisory highlights potential adjustments from regional events but stops short of any suspension notice. Sustainability and service pages remain active, promoting parking bookings and passenger rights information.

The airport has handled increased traffic in recent weeks as Saudi Arabia positions itself as a key transit hub amid widespread disruptions elsewhere in the Gulf. Reports from Asharq Al-Awsat and other outlets note a surge in rerouted flights using Saudi airspace and airports after closures or severe restrictions in Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi and other neighboring hubs. Saudi carriers like Saudia and Flynas have maintained core domestic and select international routes while extending suspensions to certain conflict-adjacent destinations through late March.

Earlier in the month, temporary measures affected operations. Saudia and others canceled or postponed flights to cities like Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, Kuwait and Amman amid initial airspace safety assessments following missile exchanges and drone threats. By mid-March, however, major Saudi airports — including Jeddah, Riyadh (RUH) and Dammam (DMM) — returned to largely normal schedules, facilitating repatriation charters and commercial services. GACA reported handling over 120 flights from regional carriers between late February and mid-March to support continuity.

Unlike Kuwait International Airport, which faces prolonged closure due to reported infrastructure damage from drone incidents, Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz has avoided direct impacts. No confirmed strikes or significant damage have been reported at JED, though heightened security includes enhanced radar monitoring and coordination with military authorities. Passenger volumes remain robust, with the airport previously setting records for throughput and continuing to serve as a vital link for pilgrims and business travelers.

Delays do occur sporadically — FlightEra notes average departure delays around 44 minutes and arrivals at 76 minutes in recent periods, with low cancellation rates (4-5%). Weather conditions in Jeddah remain favorable, with scattered clouds, mild winds and good visibility contributing to smooth operations.

For travelers, the situation requires vigilance. Airlines recommend confirming status via official apps or websites, as dynamic routing and overflight permissions can lead to last-minute changes. Saudia, the primary operator at JED, has emphasized safety-first adjustments, while low-cost carriers like Flynas and Flyadeal maintain extensive domestic networks.

The broader Middle East aviation landscape remains volatile. Airspace over Iran, Iraq, Syria and parts of the Gulf faces intermittent restrictions, forcing longer routings over Saudi territory or the Arabian Sea. This has increased fuel costs and flight times but allowed Jeddah to absorb overflow traffic.

As the conflict enters its third week, no escalation has directly threatened Jeddah’s operations. Authorities continue emergency coordination, with focus on stranded passengers and logistical support. International advisories from the U.S. State Department and others urge caution in the region but do not prohibit travel to Saudi Arabia outright.

Passengers planning to use King Abdulaziz International Airport today or in coming days should monitor real-time sources: the KAIA flights portal, airline apps and trackers like Flightradar24. With hundreds of flights proceeding, the airport stands open and functional, serving as a stable anchor in an otherwise disrupted regional network.

The report said that “markets are expected to continue to get shaped by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East that has so far not shown signs of de-escalating,” adding that “risk aversion is expected to remain in place.”

According to the report, prior to the conflict, the base-case scenario assumed that “the tariff pass through would start to fade and that would push US inflation gradually lower and labour markets would remain weak that could open scope for a 50bps cumulative cut over 2H2026.”

However, the report cautioned that “the outlook could get shaped by the ongoing conflict and in particular whether there is a structural pick-up in crude prices,” which the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) may need to consider in its projections.

It added that “there are risks of the FOMC possibly back-loading easing, although it is too early to call at the current juncture,” with the outlook depending on “the duration of the Middle East conflict and permanent impact it has on oil prices.”

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The report highlighted that the FOMC maintained status quo on policy rates while “explicitly acknowledged the build-up of uncertainty in the outlook from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East” and also recognised weakness in the labour market.
Despite the geopolitical challenges, the report noted that the FOMC raised its GDP growth projections and also revised inflation forecasts upward, with “the 2 per cent target expected to be achieved by 2028.”However, there was no change in policy rate guidance, with “the median of members expected 25bps cut in 2026 and 25bps cut in 2027.”

The report added that FOMC Chair Jerome Powell “emphasized that the central bank will maintain a data-dependent response” and highlighted that “considerable uncertainty persists about the impact of the conflict on the outlook on the economy.”

It also warned that “higher energy prices and pass-through of the same into consumer prices implies risk of a possible delay” in rate cuts if oil prices remain elevated.

For markets, the report said the FOMC meeting was “largely a non-event,” but added that “the conflict in the Middle East is likely to drive price action ensuring that risk aversion remains dominant,” with US yields expected to drift higher and the global dollar likely to remain supported. (ANI)