Earlier this week, there was talk surrounding Kobe Bryant making his return to basketball, specifically to the BIG3. It may have started when reporters asked Stephen Jackson if the Black Mamba could hang with the players in the league now.
Apparently, Ice Cube has been hoping for this move to happen since the BIG3 started, but it has not come to fruition at all.
Then the rumors got stronger, until they didn’t.
BIG3 co-founder Jeff Kwatinetz's quote today about Kobe: "I did hear from a credible source yesterday that Kobe says he's playing next year." But he acknowledges that might not mean anything.
— Brian Mahoney (@briancmahoney) August 21, 2018
Forget that Kobe to the #BIG3 idea. Molly Carter, chief marketing officer of Kobe Inc., says he definitely is not playing next year.
— Brian Mahoney (@briancmahoney) August 21, 2018
So, there you have it ladies and gentlemen.
Bryant is too busy writing cartoons for ESPN, breaking down film for players and scripting his next Oscar win to be playing in the BIG3.
UPDATE: Ice Cube talks to ESPN’s Outside the Lines about Kobe Bryant coming to the BIG3 and why he wants him to play there.
OS REWIND: Kobe Bryant Talks Pressure on LeBron James in L.A., Championship Mentality