Rumors of former Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant playing in the BIG3 next season surfaced online. However, Kobe Inc. Chief Marketing Officer Molly Carter has burst the bubble by saying that there's no chance that the five-time NBA champion will play in the 3-versus-3 tournament next year, as per the Associated Press' Brian Mahoney, who posted the update on his Twitter account.
“Forget that Kobe to the
#BIG3 idea. Molly Carter, chief marketing officer of Kobe Inc., says he definitely is not playing next year.”
Despite Carter's dismissal of the Bryant rumors, it didn't stop the Twitter world from reacting to the Black Mamba potentially playing in the BIG3.
There were a lot of people who were not completely sold with the thought that Bryant will be resurfacing from retirement.
Quick Note of Kobe in Big3: lol
I covered Kobe his final season… He gone.
— Shahan Ahmed (@shahanLA) August 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/RealLifeKaz/status/1031985971498287105
Does Kobe know this? https://t.co/gZJp4FLq7e
— Zach Harper (@talkhoops) August 21, 2018
— Estevan Casas 💜💛 (@EstevanC530) August 21, 2018
Then there are the legions of fans who got pumped up just by knowing that they could watch one of the greatest players of all-time play again.
https://twitter.com/mister_deezy/status/1031979679593328640
https://twitter.com/Grandpa_Batman/status/1031996110737432577
https://twitter.com/STAN502/status/1032022263456063488
And well, there are the true Lakers fans.
https://twitter.com/akalilpupusa/status/1032020019645886464
Just come play with Lebron @kobebryant https://t.co/yCPv1kqWiQ
— Quincy Hodges (@QuincyHodges) August 21, 2018
However, ESPN's Ramona Shelburne knows that this rumor is still a longshot from reality.
Not so sure about this
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) August 21, 2018
Ever since retiring in 2016, fans from all corners of the world have been dying to see Kobe Bryant step onto the hardwood once more. The talks surrounding the clamor grew louder when LeBron James signed with the Lakers this summer.
BIG3's founder Ice Cube has since reiterated his desire to make Bryant play in the tournament.
Ice Cube (@icecube) on Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) playing in the #BIG3 (@thebig3) "He does have a lot going on. It may take him another year or so to get the itch, but whenever he get the itch, we here to scratch it." via @RichEisenShow #Lakers
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) August 13, 2018
At the age of 39, there's a possibility that Bryant still has some left in the tank for one final hurrah. But with Kobe involving himself with off-court businesses and responsibilities, it may take a while for the 18-time all-star to consider thinking about a comeback on the court.
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