Kobe is headed back to Italy.
According to reports, Bryant has agreed to play the first 10 games — or 40 days — of the Italian league season with Virtus Bologna. The Associated Press reports the deal is worth $3 million. He can return to the NBA as soon as the lockout ends.
“We have reached an economic deal,” Virtus president Claudio Sabatini told a Rome radio station, according to The AP. “There’s still some things to arrange but at this point I’m very optimistic. I would say it’s 95 percent done.”
The AP said Bryant is expected to get a work visa and return to Italy next week.
“Kobe should be in Bologna by Wednesday or Thursday with his visa in hand for medical visits and then we can deposit the contract with the league,” Sabatini said. “I want to make clear that right now there are still no signatures. We’ve got to write the contract, which will then be read over and over again.”
