his GOAT was growing up.

Austin Reaves Names His Personal GOAT

In response, Reaves didn’t hesitate to name Lakers legend Kobe Bryant as his childhood GOAT.

While Reaves didn’t provide an explanation for why he chose Bryant, it’s worth noting that he has spoken about his admiration for the Black Mamba in the past.

In his trip to the Philippines in 2024, Reaves shared that while he sees James as the best player to ever step foot in the NBA, nothing will change the fact that he grew up idolizing Bryant.

“My favorite player ever is Kobe Bryant, but the greatest player ever is LeBron James,” Reaves shared, per Spin.

According to a previous report by USA Today, Reaves’ grandmother liked Bryant’s mentality, which influenced the now Lakers guard to keep watching the NBA legend.

Kobe Bryant’s Life and NBA Career

For what it’s worth, it’s not only Reaves who said that Bryant was his childhood GOAT. Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley also picked the Lakers icon, along with NFL great Barry Sanders.

Sure enough, it’s not a surprise why many admire Bryant. He dominated the NBA in the 2000s, winning five championships, two Finals MVPs and an MVP award throughout his legendary career.

Bryant, an 18-time All-Star in his 20 years in the NBA, also has career averages of 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists. He also won the scoring title twice in his time in the league.

Unfortunately, Bryant passed away in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California in 2020. He was with his daughter, Gianna, and several other people when the tragedy happened.

While Bryant is long gone, it’s clear that his legacy lives on, with several athletes today fostering that relentless and obsessive pursuit of excellence, more popularly known as the Mamba Mentality.