December 30, 2024

Vanessa Bryant shuts down rumors Kobe Bryant is returning to NBA

Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles with his wife Vanessa Lynne during the Taco Bell Skills Challenge on All-Star Saturday Night, part of 2010 NBA All-Star Weekend at American Airlines Center on February 13, 2010 (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Vanessa Bryant just shut down rumors that her husband, Kobe Bryant, is planning a return to the NBA.

Shaquille O’Neal helped fuel the rumors after it was announced that LeBron James would be joining the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kobe Bryant sounds off on Kanye’s controversial slavery comments during speaking engagement

“Kobe coming back. You heard it here first,” he told TMZ.

Now, Mrs. Bryant is making it clear that her hubby has no interest in getting back on the court.

“Kobe will not be coming out of retirement to play again,” she posted on Twitter, according to TMZ.

“He doesn’t want to play again and frankly we really enjoy spending time together as a family without the crazy game schedule interfering with birthdays, holidays and special events.”

Kobe Bryant claps back over “shut up and dribble” comment during Oscar speech

That’s a “sorry not sorry” if we ever heard one.

Kobe Bryant has been hard at work in Tinseltown since he hung up his jersey and even snagged an Academy Award for Dear Basketball, in the Best Animated Short category.

space“>The short film is based off Kobe Bryant’s poignant retirement letter published in the Players Tribune in 2015. Glen Keane, directed the film about a deep love for basketball. Keane, an animator is best known for working on hit films like Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast. The short film takes a look at Kobe Bryant’s journey, into his love for the sport and his long basketball career which started when he was a child, culminating with his historic run with the Los Angeles Lakers. And during Kobe Bryant’s acceptance speech, he threw a little political shade.

“I don’t know if it’s possible, as basketball players we’re really supposed to shut up and dribble,” Bryant said. “I’m glad we do a little bit more than that. Thank you, Academy, for this amazing honor. Thank you, John Williams for such a wonderful piece of music. Thank you, Verizon for believing in the film. Thank you, Molly Carter. Without you we wouldn’t be here and to my wife Vanessa and to our daughters Natalia, Gianna and Bianka … you are my inspiration.”

Bryant’s comment was directed at Fox News’ Laura Ingraham, who recently told LeBron James to “Shut up and dribble,” in reference to his vocal political opinions.

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