Kobe Bryant chose starting to shape his post-basketball life over a shot at a Euroleague title.
The Lakers' five-time NBA champion guard was offered a contract by European club FC Barcelona last summer to extend his post-NBA career, but Bryant politely turned down the offer, according to a report in Spanish sports newspaper Mundo Deportivo.
Senior officials at the Catalan club ramped up their overtures toward Bryant after hearing the top scorer in Lakers history talk about ending his basketball career with Spanish big man Pau Gasol at the club that also doubles as his favorite soccer team, according to the report.