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Kobe Bryant: ‘Turkish League is Best League in Europe’

By | September 22, 2012|

After renewing a sponsorship deal with Turkish Airlines, five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant talked about basketball in Turkey. The NBA superstar went on to say the following about the Turkish League according to Mete Aktas via Twitter:

It’s no secret that Kobe has a soft spot for basketball overseas with the perennial All-Star living in Italy for a good portion of his childhood before attending Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia.

Kobe has come out and said that he’s seriously considering playing overseas when his career in the NBA is over. Many have speculated that Kobe would go back to Italy to play in the same league his father, Joe “Jelly Bean” Bryant, played in, but maybe he’s leaning towards heading to Turkey instead.

It’s a little surprising to hear Kobe say that the Turkish League is the best in Europe without mentioning leagues in Italy, but Kobe is a straight shooter and with so many NBA players playing in Turkey over the past few years it’s highly likely that Kobe is right on the money with his recent comments.

As arguably the two biggest stars from the NBA to play overseas, Deron Williams and Allen Iverson both suited up in Turkey for Besiktas. Before the NBA lockout officially ended, Former Laker Lamar Odom had a deal in place to play for Besiktas. Kobe  seriously considered signing with Besiktas or Italian club, Virtus Bologna, with the season in doubt, but ultimately backed out.

If Kobe ultimately decides to walk away from the NBA after his contract with the Lakers expires in two years, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise to see him sign with Besiktas or another team in Turkey. Only time will tell if Kobe is willing to continue playing overseas as he will definitely have the opportunity to do so in the near future.

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About the author

Ryan Ward

Ryan is a senior writer for Lakers Nation and Examiner.com with an undying passion writing about the Los Angeles Lakers. Follow Ryan on Twitter: @Lakers_Examiner

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  • Marcus777

     agree, there are many Turkish players in NBA more than any other country outside of US, in Turkey they build many hightec large Arenas, and Turks are showing great intrest in Basketball, Yen oak greatest forever please read up before you maek a comment

  • Vood

    Get outta here ryan we need Elliot writing more articles!!!!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/ignacio.martin.14 Ignacio Martín

    It is not true. Spanish one is the best, it´s a no-brainer. FC Barcelona and Real Madrid could both play in the NBA and they wouldn’t be bottom teams, that’s for sure. Kobe said that because he is being paid by Turkish Airlines.