Austin Reaves has established himself as a legitimate All-Star caliber player for the Los Angeles Lakers, and he did so as one of the best third options in basketball behind Luka Doncic and LeBron James. Meanwhile, he continues to be a fan favorite as the team enters the postseason and chases a championship. Reaves’ signature shoe, the Rigorer AR2, has taken on a few forms since its initial release in December of 2024. But with the NBA Playoffs coming up, Reaves felt it was the perfect time to add another to the collection.
Reaves and Rigorer have announced the release of the AR2 ‘HBK’ colorway on Saturday, April 19, 2025, exclusively on KICKSCREW.COM and Rigorer.com for $100 USD. KICKS CREW continues to be the exclusive global launch partner with Rigorer and Reaves for the AR2 ‘HBK’ release, leveraging the platform’s reputation for offering a borderless shopping experience to consumers worldwide. The platform differs from other marketplaces by connecting authorized retailers and brands to its global audience, with a large majority from the US.
The new ‘HBK’ colorway will mark Reaves’ sixth release from his signature AR2 line. Short for Hillbilly Kobe, Reaves’ nickname is the inspiration behind the shoe’s design. Rooted in the spirit of his hometown farm, this release features warm wheat tones and rustic detailing that reflect the vast fields and stacks of grain where his dreams first took shape. Some other key features include a woven butterfly wing upper, full-length showtime foam tech midsole, full-length anti-torsion TPU plate, anti-slip sole, and lateral TPU sidewall.
As the Lakers gear up for the Western Conference playoffs, they are set to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game One of their series. Every player on the court will be wearing their best sneakers, but no player may look better than Lakers guard Austin Reaves. Throughout the season, Reaves has worn his second signature basketball shoe with Rigorer. As the NBA Playoffs begin, Reaves will roll out another incredible colorway of the Rigorer AR2. This style not only looks great but also has a special meaning for Lakers fans.
The Rigorer AR2 "HBK" will be released at 11 a.m. EST/ 8 a.m. PST on April 19, 2025. The shoes cost $110 and will be sold exclusively on KICKSCREW.com and Rigorer.com. The new "HBK" colorway will mark Austin's sixth release from his signature AR2 line. Of course, "HBK" is short for Hillbilly Kobe — Reaves' well-known nickname. According to the brand, "It is rooted in the spirit of his hometown farm and features warm wheat tones and rustic detailing that reflect the vast fields and stacks of grain where his dreams first took shape."
Tech specs for the Rigorer AR2 include a Woven Butterfly Wing Upper that offers breathability and lockdown support. The Full-Length Showtime Foam Tech Midsole uses an ETPU composition and offers 70% more energy return than the previous generation for enhanced cushioning. Meanwhile, the Full-Length Anti-Torsion TPU Plate enhances midfoot rigidity and improves torsional resistance, ensuring players stay secure during quick movements. Lateral TPU Sidewall panels are utilized to eliminate foot slippage by keeping the heel locked in place. Lastly, the Anti-Slip Sole merges TPU wings into the rubber outsole to enhance torsional resistance while reducing weight and maintaining traction.
Rigorer launched Reaves' first signature sneaker in March 2023. In December 2024, the highly anticipated Rigorer AR2 launched and has been well-received among hoopers and fans. The Rigorer AR2 represents Reaves' transformation into an elite NBA performer. Continuing the butterfly narrative that started with the AR1, this shoe reflects Reaves' metamorphosis from a promising rookie to a dominant force on the court.
As the playoffs approach, Reaves emphasized the importance of playing hard every possession, recalling the Lakers' playoff loss from last year in which they led at halftime of every game of their five-game series with the Denver Nuggets. “You just gotta play hard as shit,” Reaves noted. “Every possession, you win by the smallest margins and you lose by the smallest margins in the playoffs, as we could tell from last year. Obviously it’s not the same team, but if you go back and watch last year’s games, one thing here and there could’ve changed the whole series and we would’ve had an opportunity to play in the second round.”
Reaves continued, “But we didn’t do those, so we gotta do that every single game. We can’t take possessions off. At the end of the day, we got a group of guys that are just ready to go to war. There’s a difference in being ready to go to war by yourself than being ready to go to war with your team. We’re locked in as a group and ready to go compete.”
With the postseason upon us, the Lakers are looking to make a deep run, and Austin Reaves is poised to lead the charge with his new signature shoe on his feet. Fans are eager to see how both the player and the shoe perform as the Lakers aim for championship glory.
