OPISYAL nang retirado si Kobe Bryant sa basketball subalit may kinalaman lamang ito sa kanyang pisikal na presensiya sa court.
Inanunsiyo ng Fiba na ang future Hall of Famer ay napiling global ambassador para sa 2019 Fiba Basketball World Cup.
“Growing up in Italy and spending many years visiting China, I have always appreciated the global impact that basketball has had on the positive development of young people,” wika ni Bryant.
Si Bryant, itinuturing na ‘one of the best of all time’, ay nagwagi ng limang NBA titles sa Los Angeles Lakers at dalawang Olympic gold medals sa Team USA noong 2008 at 2012.
Sa kanyang bagong papel na gagampanan, si Bryant ay tutulong sa pagtataguyod sa World Cup, dadalo sa Road to China 2019 activities, at magiging abala mismo sa panahon ng kumpetisyon.
Ang 2019 World Cup ay unang pagkakataon din sa kasaysayan ng kumpetisyon na 32 koponan ang magbabakbakan para sa tropeo.
“We’re thrilled and honored to have a basketball and sporting legend of Kobe Bryant’s caliber join us in building up to next year’s World Cup,” wika ni Fiba President Horacio Muratore.
“Kobe has proudly represented the USA on the world’s biggest stages, where he’s achieved the highest successes. As such, it’s only fitting to have him take on this role ahead of our biggest-ever competition,” dagdag pa ni Muratore.