The media went into a frenzy in late September 2011 when the president of the Italian basketball club Virtus Bologna revealed that they were on the verge of signing the legendary Kobe Bryant.
When questioned about these rumors, the NBA superstar didn't dismiss them. In fact, Kobe playfully responded with some flirtatious comments that only intensified the speculation.
"It's been my dream to play here," remarked Bryant, per Reuters. "Italy is my home where my dream of playing in the NBA began. Here, I learned the basics: to throw, pass, move without the ball."
Kobe was poised to take his talents to Italy
One might wonder why one of the greatest players ever would choose to play overseas not even a year and a half after winning the 2010 NBA Finals with the Los Angeles Lakers .
The answer is rooted in the lockout, which was ongoing due to disagreements between the league's administration and the players' union regarding revenue sharing and salary cap rules.
This situation frustrated the fiercely competitive Bryant, who usually dedicated every spare moment to the court. Consequently, the 'Black Mamba' looked for other ways to keep playing competitively, namely in Europe.
Another question that likely arises is, why Italy? Well, the NBA icon spent part of his childhood there while his late father, Joe Bryant, played professionally in the national basketball league. During those years, the young Kobe learned to play and became fluent in Italian. That, as well as his love for the country, never faded, making a return—though temporary—very appealing.
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The deal slipped through the cracks
Several media outlets originally reported that Virtus Bologna was willing to pay $800,000 for the 2008 MVP to play three games. However, shortly after, the fifteen-time Italian champions increased their offer twice in an effort to get Bryant's signature.
"I've gone beyond my last offer of three million dollars gross. Now we have to discuss the benefits. There are still some things to work out, but I'm very optimistic–it's 95 percent done," claimed Claudio Sabatini, the team's president.
However, the deal quickly turned into nothing. Even though the offered salary was undoubtedly more than tempting, there were just too many complicated legal issues involved, one of which was image rights.
Furthermore, for the Purple and Gold, having their 13-time All-Star playing outside the league posed a significant risk. The 'Black Mamba' was already dealing with enough injury troubles, and a break from competitive basketball was seen as beneficial. Additionally, aside from a few commercial benefits, playing in Italy wouldn't really add much to the superstar's finances, apart from the sentimental value.
Ultimately, all of this contributed to the late Bryant's decision to stay in L.A. before the shortened 66-game season commenced on December 25, 2011.
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