BigGameDamian
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Kobe Bryant has not put up All-Star numbers this season, but there's a chance the Los Angeles Lakers guard represents the Western Conference in Toronto in February anyway. Fan voting began on Thursday, and Bryant remains one of the most popular players in the league. Some people believe that, based on his 20-year career, Bryant deserves to be recognized one last time at All-Star weekend. NBA commisioner Adam Silver is one of those people.
"I hope to see him there," Silver said in an interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio. "I think he deserves to be there. He's going to retire as one of the NBA's greatest players. Even beyond his play on the floor, he's played as great a role as anyone in the international expansion of the game. Right now, I'd say in China there's still Kobe and [then there's] everyone else. I think because he was such a hit there when he was there with the national team for the Beijing Olympics, and I know he's made so many trips to China over the course of his career in the NBA. And I think the same thing in India and Africa and Latin America and, of course, Europe, where he grew up."
Silver is right to point out Bryant's impact internationally. He has tons of loyal fans in North America, but if he ends up being voted in as a starter, it will be largely because of the rest of the world. Everybody knows Bryant is huge in China, and popularity there can go a long way when it comes to voting.
"He's just one of those great global ambassadors of the NBA," Silver said. "And I hope in the same way that Dikembe Mutombo now is a global ambassador of the NBA, that we find a way to keep Kobe involved. So we'll see what the fans and the coaches decide, and then we'll go from there."
In the next couple of months, this is going to be discussed to death, especially if Bryant is on pace to be a starter when the early returns come in. My take: I wouldn't vote for him, but I won't be mad if he gets in. The game is about stars, and he's certainly still one of those. Even if he's not playing like it. Kobe Bryant might be an All-Star one last time.
"I hope to see him there," Silver said in an interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio. "I think he deserves to be there. He's going to retire as one of the NBA's greatest players. Even beyond his play on the floor, he's played as great a role as anyone in the international expansion of the game. Right now, I'd say in China there's still Kobe and [then there's] everyone else. I think because he was such a hit there when he was there with the national team for the Beijing Olympics, and I know he's made so many trips to China over the course of his career in the NBA. And I think the same thing in India and Africa and Latin America and, of course, Europe, where he grew up."
Silver is right to point out Bryant's impact internationally. He has tons of loyal fans in North America, but if he ends up being voted in as a starter, it will be largely because of the rest of the world. Everybody knows Bryant is huge in China, and popularity there can go a long way when it comes to voting.
"He's just one of those great global ambassadors of the NBA," Silver said. "And I hope in the same way that Dikembe Mutombo now is a global ambassador of the NBA, that we find a way to keep Kobe involved. So we'll see what the fans and the coaches decide, and then we'll go from there."
In the next couple of months, this is going to be discussed to death, especially if Bryant is on pace to be a starter when the early returns come in. My take: I wouldn't vote for him, but I won't be mad if he gets in. The game is about stars, and he's certainly still one of those. Even if he's not playing like it. Kobe Bryant might be an All-Star one last time.
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