The first reports of Kobe Bryant contemplating playing overseas were met with laughter. Responding to a reporter asking him if he would consider moving to Europe to play, Bryant answered, “Of course. By the way, are you the owner of a Russian team? It can be arranged for $40 million per year.”
But Marc J. Spears of The Boston Globe reported today that Bryant would “probably go” if he was offered “$50 million dollars” a season.
And Bryant isn’t alone.
Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Paul were approached by the The Arizona Republic and were receptive to the idea. As is Carmelo Anthony. And let’s not forget LeBron James.
But Kobe’s situation is different. For starters, Bryant will turn 30 in two weeks. Kobe has played in 1,018 regular season and playoff games. Paul, Anthony, Wade, Bosh, and James could play a few years in the Euroleague and return to the NBA before they hit their primes. Kobe has about two more prime seasons, if his prime hasn’t already passed.
Just last summer, he was demanding a trade because of the lack of talent surrounding him. Los Angeles responded by trading for Pau Gasol, LA won 57 games, Bryant won MVP, and the Lakers advanced to the NBA Finals.
And this is how Bryant would repay the Lakers? By bolting to Europe for the payday of his life?
I don’t think anyone is surprised that LeBron James — a player who has Bill Gates and Warren Buffet on speed dial — and aspires to be the richest man in the world would consider playing in Europe.
But Kobe Bryant?
All of this begs the question of who Bryant really is? Kobe has made many mistakes throughout his career. But the one thing Bryant’s detractors could never question is his work ethic. He’s devoted his life to the game of basketball. The assumption was that Bryant played for legacy, a legacy he hoped would be culminated by him being acknowledged as the greatest player of all-time.
Maybe we were wrong.
Bryant was asked to define success last season, and replied that he defined success “by championships, by winning.”
Kobe, or LeBron, or Dwyane Wade could win a Euoleague championship, but that would add nothing to their basketball legacies.
I have a hard time imagining Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, or Michael Jordan playing in an inferior league for greater riches.
Maybe Charles Barkley is right when he says that today’s player don’t want to be great. That they’re only concerned with money and celebrity.
I thought Kobe Bryant was an exception.
Apparently everyone has a price.
August 8th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
LOL!
what a shocker.
out of all those high profile names in the arizona republic article, which player is the only one to state he is happy in his current local?
LOL!!
KOBE!!
August 8th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
dusty,
Good to see you laughing out loud. It’s important to point out that no one has signed with a European team yet. But I was disappointed to see a few of those names above — Kobe Bryant — obviously included.
What do you think Dusty? Do you think players of yesteryear would have bolted to Europe for the chance to earn more money?
August 8th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
no listen, i had finished leaving a comment on your original “lebron to europe” blog in which i state….
“of course i’m right”
and moments later this posted…….usually i just type LOL and my laughter is internal. i really had to pick myself up from the floor this time.
KOBE!! doesn’t care about his legacy, only his image.
KOBE!! doesn’t care about the lakers, or their fans, he only cares about money.
laker nation is like millions of battered housewives who love the abuse.
enjoy.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
dusty,
Well, I’m glad someone was able to find some amusement in this development. I’m not pleased that any of the NBA’s players are considering a move to Europe.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
When someone suggested that Laker loyalists might take offense to his repeated reasoning that a gold medal trumps a title, Bryant bristled.
“So what,” he sniffed. “So what. If they can’t understand that, they don’t know what they’re talking about. It’s that simple. You’re playing for your country. There’s nobody in L.A. that wants to win more than me. If they want to take that as disrespectful, that’s silly. Everybody knows in L.A. that I’m the most competitive person – ever. Nobody wants to win a championship for the Lakers more than I do. Nobody. But playing for your country is something entirely different.”
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/basketball/news?slug=aw-kobeteamusa080908&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
August 9th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
dusty,
Yeah, I read that article. It was a very good read.
I agree with Kobe. A gold medal is a greater accomplishment than an NBA championship.
What do you think Dusty?
August 9th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
This isn’t the kind of thing I’d take too seriously.
Think about how you would answer if a reporter stuck a mic in your face and asked if you’d move to Italy for $50 million.
If a reporter asked me if I’d move to Italy for $50 million, I’d say yes. However, when we look at things seriously, we probably wouldn’t.
I don’t really think this is newsworthy.
August 9th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Basketballogy,
I don’t think Kobe will play in Europe. But I’m still surprised that he would entertain the offer given his age and the team he has in LA.
Maybe I’m old school and I’ve romanticized the players of yesteryear, but I can’t fathom MJ or Magic entertaining an offer overseas.
I always got the impression that they were playing against the history books as much as their opponents.
August 9th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Kobe isn’t just a great basketball player, he is a student of the game, and he is very aware that he isn’t just earning money, he is leaving a legacy.
Kobe has flat out shown he would not be happy with a legacy that left him not winning a championship without Shaq.
Due in part to Kobe’s young age when he entered the NBA, Kobe has a chance to do some damage to NBA record books that would be very hard for anyone not named LeBron to top, especially given that the NBA doesn’t take kids straight out of high school anymore.
Jordan continues to pull in millions with his Nike endorsement, long after he retired from playing. Kobe, if he can leave a greater legacy than he now has, will stand to gane back after retirement anything he left on the table by not fleeing to Europe.
August 10th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Can you blame Kobe?