Tuesday,
August 12, 2008
Kobe
Bryant: I'd Go To Italy For $50M
Kobe Bryant's suggestion that he would play in Italy for $50
million a year has more credibility than LeBrons
James' statement, although both may merely using a negotiating ploy, since
both are free agents after next year. Kobe grew up in Italy, speaks the language fluently, and has an
affinity for Italy.
Bryant currently earns $20 million a year
on a 7 year contract that permits him to opt out next year.
Seven
years ago, Kobe
bought an ownership stake in Olimpia Milano
of the Italian league for his father Joe to run. When Bryant was asked
whether he held intrigue with owning and playing on a team together, he said,
Absolutely.
Some basketball
executives believe Bryants ultimate ambition might be to have a
majority ownership with a powerhouse Italian team while serving as its
superstar. Whats more, Bryant, 29, insists that it wouldnt
be such a leap of faith for him to leave the NBA.
Kobe Bryant was
born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, (born August 23, 1978) the
youngest child and only son of Joe and Pam Bryant. When Bryant
was six (6), his father left the NBA, moved his family to Italy, and
started playing professional basketball there. Bryant became accustomed to the
lifestyle there and learned to speak fluent Italian.At
an early age, he learned to play soccer and at first his favorite team was AC Milan.In 1991, (at the age of 13) the Bryants moved back to the United States. Bryant earned
national recognition during a spectacular high school career at Lower Merion
High School in the Philadelphia suburbs. His SAT score of 1080
would have ensured his basketball scholarship to various top-tier colleges.
Ultimately, however, the 17-year-old Bryant made the decision to go directly
into the NBA., rather than first attend Duke University.
Bryant was chosen
as the 13th overall draft pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996, he refused to
play for anyone but the Los Angeles Lakers. Then L.A. GM Jerry West traded
his starting center, Vlade Divac, to the Hornets in
exchange for Bryant's draft rights.
Real
GM Basketball
Via
The Orange County Register
August 11, 2008
Lakers' guard Kobe Bryant
claims that he would consider playing in Italy for $50 million a year when
he becomes a free agent next season, according to The Orange County Register.
"I'd go. I'd
probably go," Bryant said when asked by a reporter if he would think about
playing in Europe for an outrageous contract.
"Like Milan
or something like that, where I grew up."
Bryant's claim
seems a little more substantial than that of LeBron
James, who also claims he'd play overseas for $50 million a year, if only
because of Bryant's history in Europe.
Bryant
spent
a majority of his childhood in Italy
while his father Joe was playing professional ball overseas.
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