One of the very few bright spots of last season was witnessing Austin Reaves’ emergence to not only being a key part of the Lakers’ lackluster roster, but also turning into a fan favorite.
The undrafted rookie was so remarkable that fellow teammates and Lakers fans alike showed love by doing what they always do to their favorite players, giving him a nickname.
As the season went on, a pair of contenders for the top spot of Austin’s main moniker emerged — “AR-15” (Austin’s initials and jersey number) and “Hillbilly Kobe.”
However, as mass shootings perpetrated with weapons like the one referenced in Reaves’ nickname continue to plague American society, and Kobe Bryant’s death still weighs heavy on the hearts of basketball fans everywhere, Reaves has gone on the record to separate himself from either of the aforementioned fan-spawned titles.