Following the heart warming unveiling of the new Kobe Bryant statue, LA Lakers‘ Austin Reaves dropped an emotional statement. Playing in his third season for the LA side, the 25-year-old turned emotional after the management immortalized the 5x NBA Champion in front of the home crowd. Following the loss against the Denver Nuggets, Reaves addressed the press.

Responding to a reporter’s question on the statue, Reaves said, “I felt like a kid at the candy shop…it was an amazing experience for me.” 

Tonight turned into an emotional roller coaster ride for the Purple & Gold fans, as the management conducted a special ceremony to honor the late Kobe Bryant. Moments before the clash against the Nuggets, Vanessa Bryant took the job to unveil the 19-foot bronze statue outside the downtown arena.

Austin Reaves and other Lakers were also present in the crowd witnessing the heart-warming event. The 4000-pound statue showcased Bryant in #8 jersey, pointing his index finger to the sky. Notably, it’s a recreation of the iconic moment when Mamba walked off the court after dropping his career high score of 81 points.

Moreover, the iconic moment didn’t just get converted into a statue because of its statistical relevance. Bryant himself opted for this very moment, as per his wife. During her speech tonight, Mrs. Bryant said, “For the record, Kobe picked the pose you’re about to see. So anyone who has any issues with it, tough shit,” in a funny tone.

Even though her statement left the room in a lighter mood, the impact Bryant left on the players is unmatched.

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The Story of Hillbilly Kobe

While practically there isn’t any replacement for Kobe Bryant in the Lakers jersey, Reaves came almost close to it. A particular performance from the 25-year-old in the last season fetched him the name, Hillbilly Kobe. 

During a regular season match against the Orlando Magic, in the absence of LeBron James and Anthony Davis‘ off night, Reaves stepped up, scoring the 10 points of the game. Following the game, an assistant coach gave him the title. ‘Hillbilly’ was attached to the name because of his farming background in Newark.

He also revealed that he was a big Kobe Bryant fan during his childhood, and he has come a full circle donning the Lakers jersey and carrying a nick name with ‘Kobe’ in it.

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What do you make of Austin Reaves’ emotional statement about the statue? Let us know in the comments below.