Virtus Bologna and Italian Basketball authorities working to get Kobe Bryant deal done – NBA News
After creating shockwaves with his failed move to Besiktas about a month ago, Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers star is at it again. This time the destination is Italy.
Bryant had been offered a number of deals by Italian side Bologna from which, he chose a month long contract after some deliberations. Now the club and the Italian basketball league are working hard towards ironing out minor details.
Bologna President Claudio Sabatini had earlier announced that he had, in principle, agreed a $3 million deal with Kobe’s agent, Rob Pelinka, which will see the Los Angeles Lakers star appear in 10 games for the Italian team.
Now the two parties have issued a joint statement:
"Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna and the management of Mr. Bryant are working very intensely to try and create this important deal. Reaching such a complex deal requires both sides' maximum attention for every little detail.”
"Everyone wants a positive outcome to the deal, the goal of which is Kobe Bryant's presence in Italy, economic interests for the 17 clubs in Serie A and more attention for all of Italian basketball."
The deal will require a concerted effort from all parties concerned. Bologna have asked other clubs to help them change their schedule as they want to have 5 games at home from their first ten. They also want the rest of the games
to take place in the biggest arenas, Italian basketball has to offer, in order to maximize the interest generated by the presence of the super star guard in their ranks.
Some of the smaller clubs have shown resistance to such an arrangement, as they would miss out on the extravaganza of a game with Kobe Bryant on display. To try and get things moving in this regard, the Italian league is believed
to be ready to intervene.
Sabatini meanwhile thanked Bryant for agreeing to join the club. The deal should be done soon if Bryant is to appear in Bologna’s first game, against Roma on Sunday, but the president assured Kobe that they would wait until the
second game if the issue required more time.
"But even if he's available for the second game, that's not a problem for us," Sabatini told the ANSA news agency. "We're very confident, but we're waiting for news tonight."
Kobe Bryant grew up in Italy before moving to the United States. His father played in the Italian Basketball league for many different teams and is now a coach of in the WNBA. Kobe also learnt the basics of basketball in Italy
and this move will ensure his first homecoming.
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