While attending a friendly between the Champions League finalists in that other sport – FC Barcelona and Manchester United – in Washington, D.C., Kobe Bryant was reportedly wooed by Beşiktaş Cola Turka officials into perhaps playing for the TBL/Eurocup side during the 2011-12 season in case of a protracted NBA lockout.
Bryant did not participate in the celebrity match at the event, though he did present the “Man of the Match” award to Man U’s Nemanja Vidic after his side’s 2-1 victory over Barca. BallinEurope has yet to find anything definitive vis-a-vis the all-important negotiations between Mamba and Beşiktaş, but below runs a video featuring the nattily-attired Kobe netting a penalty shot at halftime. Perhaps he’ll be getting offers from Premiership clubs soon…?
Update: According to U.S.-based Sporting News, at least three sportswriters in-the-know have reported that Bryant did not in fact meet with Beşiktaş officials in Washington and there appears to be little chance at present that the Los Angeles Laker will play with the Turkish team this autumn.
