Kobe Bryant is a noted soccer fan. He grew up overseas, can speak Spanish fluently, and isn’t the dominant NBA player he was for the majority of nearly two decades. Plus, he’s notoriously close with Spain legend and former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Pau Gasol.
Given his worldliness, coming retirement, and friendship with a native icon, is it really that crazy to believe Bryant could finish his playing career with FC Barcelona? Maybe not crazy, but Gasol, at least, hasn’t appeared to give much thought to that idea – whether he’s involved or otherwise.
Here’s the Chicago Bulls big man on the possibility courtesy of HoopsHype:
Pau Gasol on possibility of finishing career in FC Barcelona with Kobe Bryant: It's a funny idea.
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) August 4, 2015
Shame.
It sure would be fun to watch Bryant and Gasol team up again, and playing in the ACB League would give them a chance to replicate the success they enjoyed with Los Angeles in the late 2000s. Their time as impact players domestically is fleeting at best, after all. Why not enjoy the fruits of living abroad while chasing a new goal? And why not do it together?
Unfortunately, the chances of Bryant joining Barcelona following next season – or whenever he plans to hang it up – seem very, very slim. And considering his bounce-back campaign with Chicago, the likelihood of Gasol finishing his career at home is a long way off.
But it’s a wildly entertaining prospect nonetheless.
[Via HoopsHype] [h/t Kurt Helin of PBT]
