Bryant "Big Country" Reeves (born June 8, 1973) was a professional basketball player for the Vancouver Grizzlies. His nickname came from his size and the fact that he grew up in the very small Oklahoma town of Gans.

Standing 7 feet tall and weighing 275 pounds (2.13 m, 125 kg), Reeves was an imposing physical presence on the court and was primed to become a dominant center in the NBA. After a strong collegiate career with Oklahoma State University (he averaged 21.5 points per game in his senior year), Reeves was the Grizzlies' first-round pick, getting drafted sixth overall.

Reeves played for six seasons with the Grizzlies. After averaging 13.3 points per game in a solid rookie season, he averaged 16.2 points per game in 1996-1997 and was subsequently awarded with a seven-year contract extension. The next season was his best season in the NBA, 1997-1998, he averaged 16.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.08 blocked shots per game. Also during that season, he scored a career-high 41 points against the Boston Celtics.

After 1997-1998, injuries began to take a toll on Reeves, and his numbers fell off dramatically. He was still starting at center for the Grizzlies, but his minutes per game dropped, and his field goal percentage dropped significantly. Eventually, after the Grizzlies moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in 2001, Reeves started the season on the injured list due to chronic back pain and was never able to play another game. He retired from the NBA midway through the 2001-2002 season. [1]

External links

• NBA.com player file