|
|
Barack Obama  Joined: 9/20/2005 Posts: 16,516  
|
Quote:Kobe Bryant says he wouldn’t be opposed to playing in Italy: Fan reaction
By Charles Joel, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Jul 8, 10:50 am EDT
The New York Times recently confirmed that Deron Williams(notes) reached a deal to play in Turkey. Apparently, the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant(notes) could be next.
This is the latest and most significant event in a flurry of players expressing a desire to play internationally because of the lockout.
The first mention of Kobe Bryant playing in Europe as a result of the lockout came back in February. When asked if he would be interested in playing in Italy, Kobe responded, "I wouldn't be opposed to it…You know how much I love Italy. I grew up there."
Kobe also added, "I'm not locked into anywhere…I'm locked out. You've just got to play it by ear."
Now, the most recent rumor has Kobe being targeted by a Turkish team, Besiktas. According to Ergin Ataman, the coach of Besiktas, the team already has agreements with Deron Williams of the New Jersey Nets and Zaza Pachulia(notes) of the Atlanta Hawks.
Ataman also said , "If there's a possibility, we'll talk with Kobe if he'd like to play in Europe with Deron and with other guys to play we can talk with him… if Kobe would like to play with us, we will also contact his agent and maybe with him."
Personally, I don't see Kobe Bryant playing in Turkey. In the next two years he'll be making almost 30 million per year with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Unlike other players who haven't signed gigantic contracts like Kobe's, the Mamba won't miss the NBA paycheck as dearly as many of the players considering to join the overseas exodus.
That said, like Kobe said in February, playing in Italy until the end of the lockout and maybe even convincing other stars to join him seems like a realistic possibility. Kobe grew up there, speaks Italian fluently, and his father, Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, played there for many years.
Who would you trust Kobe Bryant himself or a story about a Turkish's coach interest in Kobe?
|
|
|
Barack Obama  Joined: 9/24/2005 Posts: 15,003 Location: Australia
|
Kobe + Deron in the same Turkish team?? lol
how much money does this team have floating around.. can u imagine if this was true how much that team would dominate.
Why would he risk getting injured overseas though. Imagine he blows out his knee or something, his NBA team wouldn't pay him out would they?
|
|
|
Jesse Owens  Joined: 7/25/2006 Posts: 6,191 Location: Malaysia
|
Not sure about Deron, but stupid move for Kobe. A. It's not like he needs the money B. With the mileage on his body, he needs all the rest he can get C. At this stage of his career, all he should care about is building his legacy (winning rings)...playing in Europe adds nothing to his resume
|
|
|
Arnold Palmer Joined: 9/24/2005 Posts: 14,563 Location: Indianapolis
|
I think they should all go play over in Europe. What's the NBA going to do when all it's stars are gone? I think the more that start to commit to leaving the quicker a deal gets done for the NBA...  All bets are one unit ($50) unless otherwise noted.
|
|
|
Billie Jean King  Joined: 12/6/2007 Posts: 5,649 Location: Hong Kong
|
I hope some come to China, Then i can go see some of them in action! Come here boys!!
|
|
|
Barack Obama Joined: 9/20/2005 Posts: 16,516
|
Quote:Report: Kobe Bryant was near deal with Besiktas in Turkey prior to match-fixing scandal
Hey, so that whole thing about Besiktas being in trouble for football match-fixing?
Yeah, bad timing on that.
Jonathan Givony from Draft Express reports that Besiktas was nearing a deal for Kobe Bryant for $450,000 a month. That’s a $250k increase over what Deron Williams is reportedly getting. Which makes sense, since Bryant is arguably the biggest internationally known basketball player in the world.
So, yeah, having your account frozen, if the earlier report is accurate, that’s a bit of bad luck, that.
Deron Williams and Kobe Bryant on the same team would be the biggest ticket in Europe for basketball. It would likely open doors to television opportunities and increase sponsorship exponentially. If Besiktas’ personnel is cleared of the charges and Bryant does agree to come over, that changes the whole complexion of their future. It also sends a strong message to the owners that the best players will be going over.
The problem, naturally is that the $450,000 Besiktas would pay Bryant is money that could go to multiple members of the NBA non-elite, who are the ones that will struggle the most in the lockout. If the players are doing this only for themselves, great, should be a nice working vacation. But if this is being done to try and break ownership, some of that money needs to be spread to the rest of the players. Otherwise, all the stars will be doing is taking away more opportunities for the majority of the union to survive a prolonged lockout.
Williams and Bryant. He’d finally have a point guard worthy of his talents.
|
|
|
Barack Obama Joined: 9/24/2005 Posts: 15,003 Location: Australia
|
Cold Dog wrote:Quote:
The problem, naturally is that the $450,000 Besiktas would pay Bryant is money that could go to multiple members of the NBA non-elite, who are the ones that will struggle the most in the lockout. If the players are doing this only for themselves, great, should be a nice working vacation. But if this is being done to try and break ownership, some of that money needs to be spread to the rest of the players. Otherwise, all the stars will be doing is taking away more opportunities for the majority of the union to survive a prolonged lockout.
um... good!! Who wants to see the lockout last the whole season anyway? Whether the players cave in first or the league caves in first, I don't care. Just as long as we don't miss out on the season while they fight over the $$ Seems like the players should be the one to meet half way though, if the league is losing money then there needs to be a compromise at some point.
|
|
|
Jesse Owens Joined: 7/25/2006 Posts: 6,191 Location: Malaysia
|
Agree. I'm on the owners' side. When the average salary of an NBA player is 7mil/year, they ought to stop complaining and just play ball. NBA teams are a business like any other corporation. Owners ARE entitled to try and make as much profits as they like. It's not like the players are getting abused or paid minimum wage like most worker unions out there...
|
|
|
Arnold Palmer Joined: 9/24/2005 Posts: 14,563 Location: Indianapolis
|
Howard next to jump? Quote:Dwight Howard said Sunday "there's a huge possibility about me going to China or me going overseas to play basketball" if the lockout doesn't end.
Howard is the latest in a long line of stars to say they are willing to play overseas. It's probably just a bluff to get leverage against the owners in labor talks, but Howard has the kind of personality to take a chance. "If I decide to go overseas, the main thing is for me to continue to get better, not to do the things that I normally do, but do better at the things I'm not good at," Howard said. All bets are one unit ($50) unless otherwise noted.
|
|
|
Barack Obama Joined: 9/24/2005 Posts: 15,003 Location: Australia
|
D12 to the NBL?? 
|
|
|
Barack Obama Joined: 9/20/2005 Posts: 16,516
|
It seems there might be some substance to the idea of Kobe going overseas, the stories keep persisting...
Besiktas says it is in talks with Kobe
Selcan Hacaoglu, The Associated Press
Jul 21, 8:24 am EDT
ANKARA, Turkey - Turkish club Besiktas is in talks with Kobe Bryant's(notes) representatives about the possibility of the Los Angeles Lakers' star playing in Turkey during the NBA lockout.
"It is a fact that Kobe Bryant's managers have contacted us," coach Ergin Ataman said Thursday, a week after Besiktas signed New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams(notes).
Ataman said Bryant was waiting for an offer from Besiktas. The club, however, said it would need a sponsor to be able to pay for Bryant's contract.
"Our board will evaluate that," Ataman said.
Bryant, who has won five NBA titles with the Lakers and is a 13-time NBA all-star, has been on a tour of China, including a stop in Shanghai on Wednesday. He said he would consider playing overseas during the lockout and mentioned China and Turkey as possibilities.
Representatives other NBA players also have contacted Besiktas, Ataman said, without identifying any of them.
The Turkish League season starts in October.
Besiktas signed Allen Iverson(notes), the NBA's MVP in 2001, last year but his time in Turkey was cut short due to injury.
Another NBA player, New Jersey guard Sasha Vujacic(notes), signed last week with Turkish club Anadolu Efes. The 27-year old Slovenian guard agreed to a one-year deal with an optional second year.
Nets draft pick Bojan Bogdanovic(notes) also signed with Fenerbahce of the Turkish League in June.
Orlando Magic star Dwight Howard(notes), a five-time all-star, has said he would consider playing in China or Europe if the NBA lockout doesn't end.
Talks between the NBA and the union broke down June 30, and the owners decided to impose the league's first lockout since the 1998-99 season was shortened to 50 games. Both sides say there are significant differences between their proposals, raising the possibility that all or part of next season could be cancelled.
|
|
|
Barack Obama Joined: 9/24/2005 Posts: 15,003 Location: Australia
|
I read today that they're going to meet in LA to discuss it, so maybe there is a chance Kobe goes to Turkey.. would be pretty mental if he does I'd actually wanna find the games online to see how he does over there.. but I get the feeling he wouldn't push himself at 100%, probably would just treat it like a pickup game that he gets paid big bucks for heheh
|
|
|
Arnold Palmer Joined: 9/24/2005 Posts: 14,563 Location: Indianapolis
|
Quote:Kobe Bryant and his agent Rob Pelinka will reportedly meet with Besiktas team president Yıldırım Demirören on Thursday in Los Angeles at 1:30 PST.
After Bryant said that he hadn't talked to Besiktas in "weeks", the two sides are finally meeting to discuss the parameters of a potential deal. We've heard reports that Bryant is seeking between $1 million and $1.5 million monthly, so the team is going to have to have the help of a major sponsor to step forward and pay his salary if they're serious about bringing him aboard to play in the same backcourt as Deron Williams. All bets are one unit ($50) unless otherwise noted.
|
|
|
Barack Obama Joined: 9/24/2005 Posts: 15,003 Location: Australia
|
I reckon that'd be a good deal for Kobe, if he can get his NBA contract insured for injury.
Imagine his popularity in Turkey if he went over there, he'd probably be able to sign some nice endorsement deals while he's there too.
Kobe Bryant and Lebron James are the two biggest names in the sport by far, and I think internationally, Kobe is the one that would be the more famous of the two he's recognizable even to casual fans.
So if Kobe does play overseas even for a few months while he's still around his peak, that is huge news, and pretty much unprecedented in the NBA
|
|
|
Edwin Moses  Joined: 4/7/2006 Posts: 2,877 Location: Tucson, AZ
|
I think this kind of talk is mostly to show the league that the players mean business. Not bad tactics on the part of the players, if you ask me. Show the owners that they can take their proverbial ball and go home. Yeah, you run the risk of injury. But, really, catastrophic injury is not as common in basketball. It may happen on occasion, but guys aren't blowing out their knees on a regular basis in the NBA. Why would they suddenly start doing so overseas? For the stars, injury wouldn't really matter, anyway. Are you telling me that someone is going to void the contract of a Bryant or a Wade or a LeBron, and risk those guys playing for an opponent? No way in hell that happens. This is a win-win for the players, as far as I'm concerned.
|
|
|
Barack Obama Joined: 9/24/2005 Posts: 15,003 Location: Australia
|
yeah plus I think most guys that go overseas would get some kinda insurance first just in case they have a Shaun Livingston moment over there. Maybe someone can start up the ABA again with the multi color ball until they work out all the BS ^_^ If they did do something like that, like an alternate league in USA where all the elite NBA players could play without having to go overseas that would be something special to watch hahah maybe they could organise 8 teams with the top 100 players in the NBA and have an exhibition tournament.. would be pretty fun for the fans to watch while they're waiting for the squabbles to end anyway
|
|
|
Edwin Moses Joined: 4/7/2006 Posts: 2,877 Location: Tucson, AZ
|
Yeah, an alternate league would be cool to watch, but I doubt FIBA would give it any kind of stamp of approval. It would probably have to be an exhibition league, at best. FIBA gave their approval for NBA players to play overseas, but I don't know if they would approve them playing in a competing American league while under NBA contract. They're supposed to be in the business of protecting their member leagues, and the NBA is a member of FIBA. Would be interesting to see, though.
|
|
|
Barack Obama Joined: 9/20/2005 Posts: 16,516
|
Now that the lock-out looks inevitable, Kobe to Bologna is now looking very likely. http://ca.sports.yahoo.c...o_bryant_bologna-9206649
|
|
|
Barack Obama Joined: 9/24/2005 Posts: 15,003 Location: Australia
|
$740,000 per home game?
shit that would be tempting considering the alternative of sitting at home on the couch lol
he should take the offer if it sounds like the lockout wont end. And if Kobe goes overseas to play that would be massive news, would put a lot of pressure on the lockout to hurry the f*ck up and end as well
|
|
|
Barack Obama Joined: 9/24/2005 Posts: 15,003 Location: Australia
|
check this out, they're now saying it's a $2mil for 1 game deal  he'd be crazy not to play 1 game for that much money  Quote:Kobe Bryant is reportedly "close" to accepting a single game proposal for $2 million to play for Virtus Bologna.
We've heard these rumors for weeks, and until he puts pen to paper, it's far from official. It's not hard to see the logic behind Bryant's rationale in an effort to build his international brand, but we'll believe it if and when he actually signs.
|
|
|
Barack Obama Joined: 9/24/2005 Posts: 15,003 Location: Australia
|
The Kobe Cup - I dunno if this will come true because it sounds like the two sides of the lockout may be coming closer to an agreement, but this is the latest news on Kobe, a 3-game exhibition in Italy. Quote:Kobe Bryant is reportedly no longer looking to join Virtus Bologna for Italian league play, but is instead negotiating a 3-game Italian exhibition tour that will be known as "The Kobe Cup."
They are talking about games in Bologna, Roma and Milano with three teams playing 24-minute games with two 12-minute halves. The games would likely take place in November, as long as a deal is finalized and the NBA lockout continues.
|
|
|
Eric Heiden  Joined: 9/24/2005 Posts: 2,902 Location: Hawaii
|
Sounds just a tad bit cocky... Kobe Cup. and 24 minute games? WTF is this middle school basketball rules? Thumbboy wrote:The Kobe Cup - I dunno if this will come true because it sounds like the two sides of the lockout may be coming closer to an agreement, but this is the latest news on Kobe, a 3-game exhibition in Italy. Quote:Kobe Bryant is reportedly no longer looking to join Virtus Bologna for Italian league play, but is instead negotiating a 3-game Italian exhibition tour that will be known as "The Kobe Cup."
They are talking about games in Bologna, Roma and Milano with three teams playing 24-minute games with two 12-minute halves. The games would likely take place in November, as long as a deal is finalized and the NBA lockout continues.
|
|
|
Barack Obama Joined: 9/24/2005 Posts: 15,003 Location: Australia
|
I wonder how much he plans to make from it.. it must be a lot if he turned down a 1 game $2mil offer to play over there
and yeah 24 mins is too quick for a basketball game - I take longer than that to take a dump
|
|
|
|
Guest
|