Kobe Bryant & Agent Rob Pelinka Are Planning A Basketball Tour In China With Other NBA Players

Kobe Bryant and his agent, Rob Pelinka are in preliminary talks to create a basketball tour in China this summer. Setting the stage should the lockout extend into the NBA season, for an alternative way for players to earn money. Kobe would be the headliner with several other NBA stars forming “two or three barnstorming teams.”

If the barnstorming tour happens, the games are likely to take place at the state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai. Bryant signed a three-year deal with Mercedes-Benz in February to become the brand ambassador for Smart micro cars in China and he has already been featured in a TV commercial for the car.

Rob Pelinka owns Landmark Sports Agency. That means automatic access for the 18 NBA players listed as clients, which includes; Clippers guard Eric Gordon, former USC star and Memphis Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo, Sixers Andre Iguodala,Thunder guard James Harden and the 2nd pick in this year’s draft, Derrick Williams.

2006 photo of Kobe Bryant and Rob Pelinka

This plan is scary smart if they can pull it off. The move generates interest outside of the U.S. AND will put money in guys pockets who may be hurting when November rolls around should a lockout still be in place. It also helps the NBA keep a little of the global momentum it’s developed. Best believe some network will negotiate a deal to air the games.

Good for the players, not so great for the owners if it succeeds.

 

 

 

photo via JOHN LOCHER

Jill Munroe

Jill Munroe is a Los Angeles-based host, producer, and writer. You can find her work on sites such as FoxSports.com, EURweb.com, and MSN.com. Munroe is a current member of the African-American Film Critics Association and the National Association of Black Journalists. Munroe has also been a frequent guest on ESPN radio and Yahoo Sports. In 2015, Munroe released her first book, "PostGame Pass: access into "the life" JillMunroe.com

Share
Published by
Jill Munroe

Recent Posts

‘Reasonable Doubt’ Season 2 Hulu Tackles Friendship, Power & Secrets | Exclusive with Raamla Mohamed & Emayatzy Corinealdi

Hulu's *Reasonable Doubt* highly anticipated second season delivers a complex mix of courtroom drama, personal…

1 month ago

Frasier Reboot Season 2: How Olivia, Eve, and Roz Redefine Strong Female Characters | Watch on Peacock

The *Frasier* reboot on Peacock returns for its second season, bringing back the beloved character…

1 month ago

Puff Daddy, Hugh Hefner, and 70s Rock Icons: Two Sides of the Same Coin?

The lifestyles of music and media moguls, from rock stars of the 1970s to hip-hop…

2 months ago

Zoë Kravitz on Directing ‘Blink Twice’: Exploring Paradise, Danger, and Feminist Themes

Zoë Kravitz on Directing 'Blink Twice': Crafting Tension in Paradise Zoë Kravitz has stepped behind…

2 months ago

Diddy’s Explosive New Lawsuits: Drugging, Assault, and Voodoo Tattoo Connection

Sean "Diddy" Combs has found himself at the center of a storm, with new allegations…

2 months ago

“Seeking Mavis Beacon:” A Cultural Icon Who Was Never Real

The mystery behind Mavis Beacon, the face of the beloved 1980s typing software, has intrigued…

2 months ago

This website uses cookies.