The Italian Job

Bryant looks to be headed back to a place
he has very fond memories of.

It looks as if arguably the biggest superstar in the NBA the past decade will be talking his game over seas. Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant has reached a verbal agreement to play for the Virtus Bologna in Italy during the NBA lockout.

The deal is said to be worth $3 million over a 10-game span in 40 days, but would be allowed out of the contract when the NBA lockout were to end.

Although there seems to be a scheduling conflict, putting the agreement on hold. Virtus opens their season Sunday Oct. 9 against Roma and continue to speak with other resilient Italian clubs about rescheduling some of their home games so Bryant's 10-game tour is in the biggest and most popular Italian cities and venues.

It has also been reported that the now 33-year-old Bryant is waiting to see how the this weekend's NBA labor negotiations go in New York before making anything official.

New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams got all this started by agreeing to play in Turkey back in mid-July if there was in fact a lockout.

Bryant, who was born in Philadelphia in 1978, spent the majority of his childhood living in Italy while his father, Joe Bryant, played for four different clubs from 1984-91. During that time Bryant was able to learn the Italian language and is a fluent speaker. The eldest Bryant has since returned to the United States and is currently the head coach for the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks.

As for the current Lakers star, if and when the NBA season gets underway, Bryant will be entering his 16th professional season in the NBA and have three-years and $83.5 million remaining on his contract with Los Angeles. Although that can be voided by his current employer if he is injured playing in Europe.

The five-time NBA champion is coming off a season that saw him average 25.3 point per game, the lowest total of his career since he averaged 24.0 PPG during the 2003-04 season.

Virtus and Bryant have until the end of next week to get a deal signed otherwise he'll have to look elsewhere. Bryant knows he has a lot more yesterdays than tomorrows in his career so he knows how important it is to get this deal done.

Bryant could be heading back to the place he calls "home". Arrivederci Kobe. See you soon.