Charles Barkley says Kobe Bryant won’t go to China – NBA Update
There ain’t a topic in NBA that escapes the insightful comments of Sir Charles Barkley.
The legendary centre, who was famous for his aggressive (sometime awkward) approach to things both on and off the field, recently gave his take on the hottest vibe going around the NBA circles for the last month or so.
Where will Kobe Bryant head to play during the Lockout? Will he end up in China?
Bryant, who has played for the Los Angeles Lakers since being drafted in the NBA as the 13th overall pick back in 1997 and has established him as one of the best in the business, has been continually linked with a move
overseas in the NBA lockout.
The Lakers guard was first rumoured to be on his way to Turkey. Besiktas, the former club of Allen Iverson, that had already signed New Jersey Nets star Deron Williams for next season, seemed determined to get Bryant as well. Kobe’s
wage demands though were a big road block in the move and even though Besiktas reportedly had the backing of some sponsors for the deal, it was very recently called off.
Since then Kobe has a new prospective destination being branded about in the papers. Chinese teams have been reported as keen to get a hold of the Lakers super star. A move to China could work wonders for Bryant commercially. He
is the biggest American sports name in the Far East and would be guaranteed a hefty windfall in case he made such a move.
However Charles Barkley believes that won’t happen. Among other things Charles said Kobe doesn’t really need the money or the move,
“No I don’t think Kobe Bryant is going to Turkey. Kobe Bryant, I want to get my numbers right, but I think he has three years and 83 million dollars, so could you imagine him going to Turkey or China for a couple of million dollars
and blowing an Achilles or knee out? When you have 83 million dollars coming in the next three years, first of all you should already be financially set, but that’s too much to risk. You can’t risk that money playing overseas.”
Bryant has always been financially savvy and his Lakers contract backs it up. Barkley is actually off by a few million dollars because Kobe is set to make around $89 million in the next three years. Next year his could earn $27.4
million, $30.2 million after that and $32 million in the third year, when his contract will run out.
All that money is apart from what Kobe makes of endorsements. He has been active in the lockout and already been on a money spinning, two game tour of the Philippines alongside other NBA stars such as Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose.
Bryant has also made noises about wanting to play abroad, however as Barkley stated, it is unlikely that he will take a risk given the amount of money already committed in the Lakers contract. The rumours and courting of interest
could just be a ploy to put some pressure on the NBA in the ongoing labour dispute.
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