Lakers’ Austin Reaves looks to distance himself from ‘AR-15’ nickname

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Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves has played in just one NBA season, appearing in 61 games for a 33-49 Lakers squad that missed the playoffs for the second time in four years. 

Reaves has earned the respect of his Los Angeles teammates, including LeBron James, who told Lakers fans on social media they "have something special" in Reaves. 

Austin Reaves (15) of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after hitting a 3-pointer against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena April 10, 2022, in Denver, Colo.  (Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)

But Reaves has a couple nicknames he reportedly would like to shed. 

Reaves, who wears the number 15, picked up the nicknames "AR-15" and "Hillbilly Kobe" in his first year in Los Angeles, nicknames he’d like to move away from.

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"I don't condone any gun violence that happens around our country," Reaves told ESPN. "But you can't really control what [nickname] people give you. I mean, I didn't come out and say my name was that. There's been others, like the 'Hillbilly Kobe,' that probably aren't the best thing in the situation that's going on, with Kobe's passing." 

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Reaves is the second athlete to discuss moving away from the nickname "AR-15" after University of Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson distanced himself from the moniker last week following a wave of mass shootings in the U.S.

Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles before a game against the Golden State Warriors April 7, 2022, at Chase Center in San Francisco.  (Jed Jacobsohn/NBAE via Getty