Bryant “Big Country” Reeves was a rookie in the 1995-1996 NBA season, having lead his Oklahoma State Cowboys to the NCAA Final Four the year before. Famous for pulling down backboards and power post moves, Reeves was the first ever draft pick for the newly created Vancouver Grizzlies and his intimidating combination of size, strength, teal jersey and flat top haircut made for a formidable presence on the court.
Reeves was given the name “Big Country” by OSU teammate Byron Houston when the team took a cross-country flight in an airplane, a first for the Arkansas-native, and was amazed by the enormity of the flyover states. Sarcastically loving nicknames aside, Reeves handed in a very good year in ’95-’96 averaging 13.3 PPG, 7.4 REB, 1.4 AST and shooting 73% from the free throw line.
Although Vanouver had reputable NBA players in Byron Scott, Greg Anderson, Antonio Harvey, Benoit Benjamin and Blue Edwards, Vancouver suffered from these players either being too young, too old and the rest of the roster being just plain terrible. The Grizzlies finished 15-67, the worst record in the league despite being one of the only NBA teams with an asymmetrical jersey design at the time.
Reeves was one of the real bright spots on the Grizzlies, however, scoring a season-high 28 points and 7 rebounds in a 105-103 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 3rd, 1996. Big Country finished out the year strong and made the 2nd Team All-Rookie honors alongside Brent Barry, Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace and Tyus Edney.
While he would spend his entire career with the Grizzlies and rake in more than $55 million in salary earnings, Reeves’ pose in this Upper Deck Collector’s Choice card is far more intriguing. His posture here — on top of a ladder in a dimly-lit 1990’s gym bathroom — is a bewildering one. That he’s been lit in light so soft it would make Barbara Steisand blush almost makes you forget to ask why he’s apparently using his armpits as hand warmers a la Mary Katherine Gallagher.
Almost.
The newest edition to The Hoop Doctors writing staff, Dane Carbaugh is the editor and lead writer of the popular new basketball blog A Young Sabonis. Dane is a published research author and also writes for Dime Magazine and the ESPN TrueHoop Affiliate Portland Roundball Society. He can be found on Twitter at @DaneCarbaugh
