One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Kobe Bryant Closer to Inking a Deal With Italy
Kobe Bryant splitting through Andrew Bogut and Brandon Jennings. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
After it briefly looked like Kobe Bryant was going to be too expensive for Italy's Vitrus Bologna team to afford, the Lakers superstar may be getting close to inking a deal during the NBA lockout, reports CBS News.
Virtus Bologna owner Claudio Sabatini originally offered Bryant $6.7 million for the season. Bryant came back asking for $15 million, to which Sabatini reportedly found "shocking."
Both sides are now considering a deal for ten games and $3 million, however it would require that other teams change their schedules so that big-money Bryant could play at least five home games.
If the deal is to come to fruition, it needs to be signed by the end of this week.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
