TITLE: Austin Reaves Calls Kobe Bryant His GOAT During Asia Tour
SLUG: austin-reaves-calls-kobe-bryant-his-goat
CONTENT:
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves reaffirmed his long-standing admiration for Kobe Bryant, naming the late Lakers icon as his personal Greatest of All Time while speaking to fans on a promotional trip through Asia with sneaker partner Rigorer.
A video posted to X by user Apex Jones on Aug. 8, 2025, shows the 26-year-old being asked, “Who is your GOAT?” Reaves, without hesitation, replied, “Kobe Bryant.” The clip quickly circulated among Lakers supporters and reignited the ever-present GOAT debate.
Reaves’ answer was no surprise to those who know his background. Growing up in Arkansas, friends dubbed him “Hillbilly Kobe” because of his devotion to Bryant. That reverence has persisted even as Reaves has spent four NBA seasons sharing a locker room with four-time MVP LeBron James.
The GOAT conversation often centers on James and Michael Jordan, but Bryant routinely receives mention from current and former players. Reaves’ public endorsement adds another voice to that discussion inside the Lakers organization.
On the court, Reaves has become a key contributor in Los Angeles. He enters the 2025-26 season earning just under $14 million, but league executives expect the unrestricted free agent to command at least $30 million annually when he hits the open market next summer—a sizable raise for one of the league’s most efficient young guards.
Source: Lakers Nation
