The Los Angeles Times reports on Kobe’s visit to China as part of Nike’s tour of the basketball-crazed nation.
This is the seventh summer in a row that Bryant has visited China, including the 2008 Beijing Olympics. On this trip, according to published accounts, Bryant has hosted training clinics at Jinan in China’s Shandong province and in Wuhan in Hubei province. Bryant attended a charity dinner hosted by the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, which raises educational funds for needy children in both China and the United States. And it’s also safe to presume he’ll participate in various events promoting his Nike sneakers.
Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players in NBA history and he can surely help those attending his training clinics. Not only will Kobe bring a smile to the participants’ faces with his presence, but he can also make them better basketball players.
Bryant will also make appearances in other events, further developing his brand oversees. Bryant is on the final leg of his career, so strengthening his influences in countries like China would help him once he decides to retire from the NBA.
Not many players have their popularity on the same level as Kobe Bryant does. People from all over the world can discern a Lakers logo and a Kobe Bryant jersey. Now that the Lakers are the title favorites, Bryant’s fan base will grow even larger in this upcoming season.