Lakers rookie reveals his amusing Kobe Bryant-inspired nickname

Brad Sullivan
1 Min Read

Although Los Angeles Lakers rookie Austin Reaves is trying to make a name for himself, he revealed an amusing nickname of his that recalls Lakers legend Kobe Bryant: “Hillbilly Kobe.”

Reaves went undrafted this past summer. He originally signed with the Lakers on a two-way deal before recently earning a two-year contract.

Unlike Bryant, who was a first-round pick in the 1996 NBA Draft and the son of a former NBA player, Reaves’ background is more obscure and rural in nature.

The good-natured nickname seemingly puts some pressure on Reaves to develop into a solid NBA player.

In recent years, the Lakers have been able to successfully develop Alex Caruso and Talen Horton-Tucker into viable NBA players. The hope is that Reaves is the next player to follow in their footsteps.

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Brad is a freelance writer for LakersDaily.com, who can clearly recall watching Lakers games in 1972 as they captured the first of their 11 Los Angeles-based titles. The franchise's evolution into a beloved and iconic franchise among its fan base since that memorable year allows for a wider perspective to be a part of his writing about the team's current fortunes.