Los Angeles Lakers
Kobe Bryant reportedly turned down offer to play for FC Barcelona
Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe Bryant reportedly turned down offer to play for FC Barcelona

Published Apr. 1, 2016 12:20 a.m. ET

Kobe Bryant has seven more games to go in his surefire Hall of Fame career, but he apparently could have joined another legendary team after his Lakers' days are done.

The five-time NBA champ was offered a contract to play for FC Barcelona last summer after his NBA career had come to an end, Spanish sports newspaper Mundo Deportivo reported.

According to the report, Barcelona intensified its pursuit of Bryant when he revealed he would love to play with former Laker teammate Pau Gasol on the European basketball team. Kobe turned down the offer, which was for him to only play in Barcelona's Euroleague games, because he reportedly didn't think he could stay healthy. The Euroleague pits the top teams for each country's club leagues to face each other.

Kobe, who grew up overseas and is an avid soccer fan, is averaging 16.6 points as the Lakers struggle through their third consecutive sub-30 win season.

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