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Sports Illustrated

Jeff Smith

Austin Reaves’s Lefty Three-Pointer Evokes Epic Kobe Bryant Moment

Kobe Bryant Austin Reaves Lakers Mikal Bridges NBA

Austin Reaves might not love the “Hillbilly Kobe” nickname, but he’s certainly giving Lakers and NBA fans alike a flashback to one of Kobe Bryant’s memorable career moments. And while it’s unfair to compare anyone to the incomparable Bryant, Reaves did manage to evoke the late legend with a jaw-dropping shot Sunday in Las Vegas.

While practicing with Team USA ahead of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Reaves channeled his inner Kobe by taking a pass in the left corner and draining a left-handed three-pointer over Mikal Bridges.

The result had fans pointing back to one of the many unforgettable moments of Bryant’s career.

Austin Reaves drills a left-handed 3 on Mikal Bridges pic.twitter.com/5zKUKYUZKf
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) August 6, 2023

For comparison’s sake, here’s a look back at when Kobe did it … in an NBA game against the Mavericks.

Fans were loving it, and they chimed in via social media to point out the memories that Reaves’s moment provided of Bryant’s deft lefty three.

pic.twitter.com/P3ByzLndnV
— SCOBY Bryant ☝️🤨☝️ (@ur_crypto_fren) August 6, 2023

pic.twitter.com/LlxsQlLdgy
— @KingFitch_H19 Version 2.0. 🏀💯✨️🙌🏿🤴🏿🇺🇸🗒 (@Dfitch1990) August 7, 2023

Kobe...Bean...Bryant
— Pissed & Realistic Lakers Fan 🐬 (@AntdoggII) August 6, 2023

Kobe!!!!!
— HillBilly Kobe 🐍 (@RINGSSS8SS24) August 7, 2023

Kobe Bryant over the mavs and pelicans lol
— E.P. the Dreamer (@EPtheDreamer) August 6, 2023

pic.twitter.com/q6jM0xzlZT
— Coco (@marcomanipon) August 6, 2023

Man if reaves was a lil younger I would be saying some crazy comparisons
— Tronalations007 (@Dimeisgoated) August 6, 2023

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