Kobe Bryant was rumored to be a possible target of the Turkish team Deron Williams plans to play for during the NBA lockout. That doesn’t seem like the Lakers’ stars best option, however, according to Williams.
Kobe Bryant Could Play In China If NBA Lockout Persists, Deron Williams Says
Williams does believe Bryant, along with quite a few other stars, will go to Europe if the owners get what they want in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
"(Kobe) could go make more money overseas, I guarantee you," Williams told ESPN’s Chris Broussard. "If (European teams) knew he could be there for a full season, or they knew I could be there for a full season, or they knew LeBron James could be there for a full season, they’ll pay more money, of course."
Unlike his deal with Besiktas, however, Williams believes Bryant — his teammate on the USA’s 2008 Beijing Olympics entry — would be better served in China.
"I see him going to China or somewhere," Williams went on to say in the ESPN article. "He’s big in China. I was over there with him in Beijing. He’s ‘The Man’ over there."
It’s interesting that Williams doesn’t seem to be luring Bryant to Turkey with him, but there are apparently plenty of other big name players considering a jump to Europe now that Williams has made his plans known.
“I’ve talked to a lot of players, you would be surprised,” Williams said. “I talked to a few before and I knew some guys were considering it as well. But since it came out, it was just like a snowball of guys calling me (saying) ‘What are you doing? When are you leaving?’ And guys want to go too. They want to do it.”
It seems basketball fans are getting closer and closer to needing to order a Euroleague Pass next season if watching the best basketball in the world is the goal.
See More:
