Rumors have surfaced that Los Angeles Lakers small forward Kobe Bryant may be coming to play in China for a season.
Although Bryant is due to retire from the NBA at the end of this season, a report on Sina claimed that a Chinese team has contacted him to play in China’s National Basketball League (NBL) for a year. The 18-time All-Star has played for the Lakers his entire professional career, winning five NBA championships with the team, leading the league in scoring twice and ranking third on both the NBA's all-time regular season and playoff scoring lists.
The report suggested that former Washington Wizards point guard Gilbert Arenas may also join the NBL, with Anhui Wenyi allegedly in talks about a possible contract. (But again, that's all rumor). Arenas signed to play for the Shanghai Sharks in the 2012-13 season, but failed to get them into the playoffs.
Often sidelined by Chinese media, the NBL is a minor league considered second-tier to the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). But introducing players like Bryant onto the scene would undoubtedly increase the standing of the League. The Bryant and Arenas rumors have certainly already increased the league's visibility.
The phenomenon of NBA players coming to China isn't a new one — former NBA All-Star Stephon Marbury has seen remarkable success in China since he left behind a USD20 million contract with the New York Knicks six years ago, having led the Beijing Ducks to three CBA championships. Metta World Peace (the man formerly known as "Ron Artest") also did a season-long stint with the Sichuan Blue Whales in 2014, playing under the name "The Pandas Friend." Seriously.
[Image via Forbes]
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