Former Los Angeles Lakers guard Michael Cooper was among the former and current Lakers players and staff at a Los Angeles Best Buy store for the debut of NBA 2K12 yesterday.
The Los Angeles Times spoke with Cooper about Kobe Bryant’s contract talks with Virtus Bologna, likely because the was the only Laker there with no current NBA ties that could speak about NBA players.
Cooper, who played in Italy at the end of his career for Pallacanestro Virtus Roma, where he averaged 15.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game, said the lockout is forcing players to play overseas, including Bryant.
“I don’t think it’s a good thing or a bad thing,” Cooper told the Los Angeles Times. “I think players should be making as much money as they can in the short amount of time your body can provide for you. Unfortunately the lockout is forcing him to go over there, but I don’t think it will do anything with the lockout.”
It looks like Bryant will be heeding that advice. Bryant is currently working to complete a contract that would earn him $3.2 million for 10 games.
