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Los Angeles Lakers two-way player Austin Reaves is very excited to be a member of the Purple and Gold since he became a fan despite being from Arkansas. Some may wonder if this has to do with legendary Lakers role-player Derek Fisher, who is also from the state, but like many others around the world, Reaves was a huge fan of Kobe Bryant.
Certain players can generate a huge following from anywhere, and Kobe did that and a lot more in outdoing basketball to become one of the most famous people in the world. Like many others, Reaves watched games from a young age and it was his family that won him over.
In an interview with Lakers reporter Mike Trudell, Reaves revealed that he was a huge Kobe Bryant fan because his grandmother was a huge fan of his too:
Yeah, I was really just a Kobe fan. My grandma was a die-hard Kobe fan. It started with her. She just liked his mentality, his approach to the game. When I was younger we used to watch games and things like that. But D-Fish was good too, you can’t tap him for anything he’s done. He won many games and many rings.
Reaves is right that Fisher has won many games and many championships. When it comes to role-playing in league history, very few have influenced the win that Fisher and his five rings are proof, let alone his many memorable moments and big hits. But there was just something else about Kobe Bryant that could make anyone a fan.
Whether a teenager in Los Angeles or a grandmother in Arkansas, Kobe’s mentality was something anyone could relate to and adopt into their own lifestyle. For this reason, the mamba mentality continues to be quoted and used after his death.
As a two-way player in his first year in the NBA, expectations for Reaves are extremely low right now, but if he can incorporate that mamba mentality into his development path he could make a difference in the league at some point.
Russell Westbrook says he had Kobe Bryant in mind throughout the trading process
Kobe had a great relationship with many current NBA players, of course, and one of those he was closest to is new Lakers security guard Russell Westbrook. The native of Southern California admitted the legendary Laker stays on his mind and will continue to do so.
“I couldn’t get it out of my head,” Westbrook said. “Things we talked about, him and me. Just the potential to be a Laker and understand what that entails. It’s just crazy to think about and that will be with me every time I put on the Laker jersey. That’s all I can say about it. “
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