It remains unclear if Kobe Bryant will actually play competitively overseas, but there might be another venture he'll partake in to enhance his footwork.

The Lakers star is listed as one of the participants planning to attend in the Celebrity Soccer Challenge on July 31 at Kastles Stadium in Washington D.C., an event sponsored by former U.S. women's soccer player Mia Hamm and her husband, ex-Dodger Nomar Garciaparra. Bryant's certainly no stranger to the pitch, as he played soccer growing up in Italy and is an avid fan of La Liga's FC Barcelona and the Brazilian national team. He also attended the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

But the timing is particularly interesting simply because an official from the Turkish basketball team Besiktas told reporters this weekthat the organization planned to talk with Bryant's representatives on July 30th in hopes that he will team with Deron Williams during the NBA lockout. Bryant's planned appearance in the charity soccer game would take place one week after playing in a pair of exhibition games in the Philippines. 

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-- Mark Medina

Email the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Kobe Bryant plays around with a soccer ball in 2009. Credit: Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times