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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