Earlier
this month, NJ Nets PG Deron Williams became the first NBA player to
officially play a game overseas during the Lockout, winning his debut with Turkish team Beskitas nearly a week
ago.
Many fans in Europe were already calling Williams the biggest NBA star to ever suit up for a game overseas. But Italian club Virtus Bologna is hoping to make an even bigger splash by offering Lakers star Kobe Bryant a reported $6.7 million for one season, with an out clause to return to America whenever the lockout is over.
Virtus Bologna is obviously hoping to appeal to Kobe’s found memories as a youth traveling with his father, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant,
who played professional basketball in Italy for 4 teams between
’84-’91. Bryant has stated in the past that this was the initial time
when a young Kobe first learned to love the game of basketball. The
elder Bryant now is the current coach of the WNBA’s LA Sparks.
Deron
Williams’ Turkish club Beskitas, one unspecified Chinese team, and
Virtus Bologna have all expressed interest in signing the 5 time NBA
Champion and 13 time All Star. The latest $6.7 million offer is the 3rd
different high priced offer on the table for Bryant with the numbers
breaking down to an average of more than $739,000 per home game.
Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari rejoined his former Italian club Olimpia Milano early last week and Spurs guard Manu Ginobili
flirted with returning to Virtus Bologna, with whom he played for prior
to joining the Spurs, before deciding on remaining in America during
the Lockout.
Energy giant Canadian Solar would be the primary
sponsor for the rather large offer to Bryant with Bologna management
probably having to secure a huge insurance policy to legally be able to
sign Bryant to the milt-million dollar deal.
If the deal is to
happen, Kobe and his agent will have to work quick as Virtus Bologna’s
regular season begins October 9th. Bryant is scheduled to be in Italy
this week on a promotional tour for Nike. Could he return being the
highest paid player in Europe