Kobe Bryant's move to Italy: Fruitful for both Virtus Bologna and Bryant – NBA Feature
For the last few weeks or so, Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant has been posturing to play in Italy during the NBA lockout. Now after a verbal agreement between Kobe and an Italian club team has been reached, it looks like Kobe’s
dream of playing in the country where he learned the basics of basketball is about to be transformed into a reality.
"We have reached an economic deal, there's still some things to arrange but at this point I'm very optimistic. I would say it's 95 percent done." Virtus president Claudio Sabatini told a local radio station recently.
Italian club Virtus Bologna has been trying hard to get their hands on Kobe since the NBA lockout started threatening the prospects of a regular season this year.
It is a perfect deal for Bryant. Not only will it add $3 million to his bank account, but playing will help him stay fit for the upcoming NBA season. To me, this looks more like a sponsored vacation more than anything else. The
intensity of matches will not be anywhere near to that of NBA, and fans people will be cheering for him no matter he performs to his fullest or not.
The deal is not finalized yet and there are still some formalities left. But the way both parties are going about it, it very much looks like the Lakers star will be performing in arenas of Italy very soon. Currently, Claudio Sabatino
is working on legal formalities.
“Kobe should be in Bologna by Wednesday or Thursday with his visa in hand for medical visits and then we can deposit the contract with the league, i want to make clear that right now there are still no signatures. We've got to
write the contract, which will then be read over and over again." Sabatini said.
The signing of Bryant would be a major accomplishment for Italian basketball as its fame and following is likely skyrocket internationally and domestically, courtesy of Kobe’s allure. Following Bryant, many other dominant names
in NBA might also be inspired to come and play in Italy. Watching these big guns play, Italian youngsters will get a motivation to play and who knows in coming years we might see a few more Italian players in NBA.
Also, in case, the whole NBA season is lost due to deadlock, it wouldn’t be surprising if Bologna tries to offer Kobe an extension contract. If the situation arises, Bryant is likely to accept it and stay in Italy.
The only bothersome aspect of the deal can be if Bryant decides to stay in Italy and does not come back to NBA ever?
Well, that’s a very distant hunch and not a very realistic one as well.
The five times NBA champion, has achieved almost everything in NBA. He has been the part of toughest games of decade and this has made him mentally fibrous. A player of Bryant’s class covets competition and he is not likely to
get that playing in Italy. Plus, he is often compared to Michael Jordan and to really come anywhere close, he has to win the sixth ring.
So Kobe playing in Italy should not worry NBA fans much as the contract bounds him for only 40 days and even in that stretch, he will only play 10 games. Bryant can come back as soon as the lockout ends to play for his original
team Los Angeles Lakers and when he does, we might see another championship surge.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent Bettor.com’s editorial policy.
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