National Basketball Association

Report: Kobe dismisses Besiktas talks

Published Aug. 1, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant dismissed reports of a weekend meeting with Besiktas but declared he was ready to "play anywhere" overseas while the protracted NBA labor talks stumble on, The Washington Post reported Monday.

Bryant said he was unaware of speculation that said he was due to meet executives from the Turkish team in Washington, D.C., while he was in town to attend Saturday's exhibition soccer game between touring European heavyweights Manchester United and Barcelona.

"To be honest with you, that's the first time I'm hearing those things," he said at a news conference in the capital Sunday. "So, I'll let you decipher what that means, but a lot of that stuff is news to me."

Bryant added that he had not spoken to any representatives from the team "in weeks."

But the 32 year old said he welcomed interest from foreign leagues as he underlined his willingness to get back on court amid the NBA work stoppage.

"I'm just waiting on my phone to ring," Bryant said. "Here it is. I'll play anywhere. I grew up overseas, so I'm comfortable being overseas. So if [a team] wants to pick up the phone and give me a call and wants me to come and play, I'll definitely listen."

FIBA, the governing body of world basketball, announced Friday that it will allow players who are under contract to NBA teams to compete in FIBA-affiliated leagues amid the lockout.

FIBA said each player must sign a declaration stating he will return to his NBA team when a new collective bargaining agreement is signed.

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