This season will, of course, be Kobe Bryant’s last in the NBA. However, a team in Italy would like the future Hall of Famer to suit up for them in the future.
Bryant spent part of his youth in Italy as his father played professionally for four teams in the European country. One of the clubs Joe Bryant played for was Viola Reggio Calabria. In a touching offer, they would like Kobe to follow in his father’s footsteps. Viola Reggio Calabria did so in an open letter to Bryant. Here’s an excerpt, as shared by TMZ.
“Dear child of Reggio Calabria, fantastic Kobe, on this most beautiful stretch of land that is full of affection for you we close our eyes and dream.”
“There will always be a home for you at this great club on the Straits of Messina. Our dream might be too big but maybe it is the same dream you unknowingly had as that 8-year-old boy in the picture.”
“We want you to come home, to wear our colours, to represent our city, just as your father did before you. There is a black and orange family waiting for you, with the same name on the back: ‘Bryant.'”
While it’s probably unlikely Bryant would accept the offer, it would certainly make for a pretty cool story. And, Bryant speaks Italian so there wouldn’t be a language barrier to have to worry about.
You can’t fault Viola Reggio Calabria for shooting their proverbial shot, though. That’s something Kobe Bryant would certainly be proud of, right?
