Kobe Bryant turned down the opportunity to extend his career by declining an offer from Euroleague basketball giants Barcelona.
According to Spanish sports daily Mundo Deportivo, Bryant, who departs from the NBA this summer after a glittering 20-year career which includes five championships, was offered a contract by Barca in the summer – but turned it down.
Bryant had pondered ending his career with former Lakers colleague Pau Gasol at the club that doubles as his favorite soccer team. Officials at the Catalan giants were confident that Bryant would sign, but the player said he wasn’t sure his body would hold up for an entire Euroleague season. There were also suggestions Bryant was concerned he wouldn’t live up to the high expectations.
Bryant won NBA titles with Gasol at the Lakers in 2009 and 2010, to add to his three between 2000 and 2002.
Mundo Deportivo said Bryant passed on an offer from Barcelona to compete exclusively for the club in the more high-profile Euroleague games, which pit up to 18 of the best basketball teams in Europe against one another every season.
Bryant confirmed in November that he would say goodbye after this season and end his 20-year career with the Lakers. He is under contract with the Lakers as the NBA’s highest-paid player this season, with a $25m salary.
Bryant did not comment publicly about Mundo Deportivo’s report.
The Lakers star lived for eight years as a child in Italy, where his father played professional basketball, and speaks Italian and Spanish.
“I am actually [a huge fan] of soccer. I grew up in Italy. From the age from six to 14 I played soccer every day. It is actually my favorite sport,” he said during the World Cup in 2014.
