Kobe Bryant’s Puerto Rico stint during the NBA Lockout looking doubtful – NBA Update
Los Angeles Lakers future hall of famer Kobe Bryant has been the focal point of interest for basketball teams all over the world since the NBA Lockout took its first breath on 1st July, 2011.
Teams from the Chinese league, Italian league and European League, all made their offers to the legendary shooting guard Bryant. However, among the reports of the international teams reaching for Kobe Bryant, the only report missing
was Lakers superstar shifting his talent overseas
At a time when it started to appear that Bryant is all set to action in Puerto Rico in a six-game global tour after finalizing some minor details, various complications cropped up out of the blue which makes his shift doubtful
once again.
Eighteen NBA players led by Kobe Bryant of Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James of Miami Heat, Kevin Durant of Oklahoma City Thunder and Derrick Rose of Chicago Bulls are all set to play in a six-game global expedition which is scheduled
to begin on Sunday in different parts of the world.
The sources have informally confirmed the happening of the exhibition games. “The tour will begin in Puerto Rico and is scheduled to continue to London, Macau and Melbourne, Australia. Organizers are considering adding a fifth
city to the tour and are doing some last-minute tinkering with the other stops and dates.”
As per the schedule, the tour starts on 30th October with one game in Puerto Rice, two games in London, two games in Australia and one in Macau.
Though Kobe Bryant is expected to appear in London, Macau and Australia however his Puerto Rico appearance seems doubtful and the reason of uncertainty is more because of the organizers and less because of Bryant. According to
the sources, the organizers are still waiting for the signed agreements from 10 of the 18 expected NBA players who want to play in the four-continent exhibition tour.
Initially, Bryant’s overseas ventures remained a pipe dream when the deal was not finalized in the final moments. Turkish team Besiktas was the first team who struggled to gather funds and sponsor to have Kobe Bryant on board however
some complications ended the deal. The Chinese team was also close in singing Lakers superstar however the restriction from their league to include the out-clause option broke down the agreement. Virtus Bologna also failed to accommodate Kobe Bryant after
having weeks of talks.
Kobe Bryant was only able action in coupled of exhibition games during the NBA lockout as the potential gigs failed to make it pass the negotiation table.
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