While Kobe Bryant's chatter about taking a $50 million contract to play in Europe won't draw the yelping (guilty) similar sentiments by LeBron James' camp did, that Kobe himself is making the assertion is worth attention. The Boston Globe's Marc J. Spears documented Kobe's public stance on the matter from Beijing."I'd go. I'd probably go," said Bryant, during a USA Basketball press conference on Friday morning. "Like Milan or something like that, where I grew up or something like that ... Peace out."No, no I don't. Last time Kobe talked Europe, it seemed like a punchline. But when he specifically discusses Italy and mentions he has friends there (as he does in the conversation with the Globe), that indicates at least mildly serious thought has gone into the idea.
Bryant continued: "Do you know any reasonable person that would turn down 50 (million dollars)?
Kobe's a whole different sack of potatoes when it comes to the NBA and Europe. KBB makes good endorsement money, but nothing like LeBron (blame Colorado). While LBJ would be 25 at the date of his proposed exit, Kobe'll be 31, with at least three (and maybe four, Bynum willing) championships. His MVP 2007-08 campaign almost cemented his legacy as one of the best two-guards ever, and (other than a Shaq-less title) he has little left to prove stateside. This is completely different from LeBron, who hasn't won an MVP nor a ring, and has a shot to eclipse MJ as the G.O.A.T. if he continues his war against basketball gravity.
Similarly, the NBA wouldn't gnash its intestines too much if Kobe replaced LeBron on the first boat east. Losing both would be murder, but the league's much less tied to Kobe's star than that of LeBron. The NBA -- more importantly, TNT and ABC and ESPN -- would miss Kobe, one of the few remaining stars who can sell out buildings on the road. But they'd miss King James much, much more.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Nooooooooooooooooo!!! This is EXACTLY what i feared!!!!! Damn, but honestly, I think losing the best player in the universe (you heard me Pierce!!) is far worse than losing LBJ, I guess it's just cause' LBJ hasnt't really peaked yet.
I think the NBA would miss LeBron for longer (due to his youth), but in the immediate, I'm not sure they'd miss him more. With the Knicks being abysmal, Kobe is the biggest star in the biggest media market where the league has a viable team. The Lakers in the Finals is a ratings dream, the Cavaliers? Not so much. (see 2007.) But of course, LeBron to the Nets in 2010 would change all that.
Throw in the fact that plenty of people watch Kobe just to root against him because they hate him, and he's easily a bigger draw than LeBron. I don't think anyone outside of Detroit will tell you that they hate LeBron, whereas Kobe has at least as many anti-fans as he does fans (probably more).
Contrary to what you think Kobe is by far the bigger international star (check today's papers for confirmation), it would be a far more devastating blow to the NBA's international reputation if he leaves than if Lebron leaves. Put it this way, the best footballer in the world is the Argentinean Lionel Messi but a defection by the more internationally popular Thierry Henry from the premiership to the MLS would be impossible for European soccer to live down.
If money is the only thing that drives these self-centered basketball players, let them go. Who needs them. They surely lack being patriotic. They need to remember where it came from and have a little gratitude.
What does this have to do with being patriotic? It's not like they would be selling national secrets and playing for the Olympic team of the euro country they would sign with. Its a business plain and simple.
Do you call players unpatriotic when they sign with the Raptors?
kobe's not going anywhere. he even said so in interveiws conducted after this. sure the money would be great, but kobe wants to go down as the greatest baller ever, and that's not going to happen playing in the euro league. same goes for lebron. the only americans going to europe are roleplayers who want more money than they are worth in the NBA, wash-outs no longer good enough to play in the NBA, and high school star athletes who couldn't meet the bare minimum requisites to get into college. Besides that, nothing would suprise me. Being a Capitalist means doing whats best for your own personal interests; it has nothing to do with patriotism. If anything, patriotism hinders a truely capitalistic society.
so kobe is less american if he goes overseas to stack more cash than the nba can afford?put down the crack pipe..