Kobe Bryant's Wife, Vanessa, Files for Divorce

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant have been married for more than 10 years.

Kobe Bryant's wife, Vanessa, filed for divorce on Friday from the Los Angeles Lakers star, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split.

Vanessa Bryant filed papers in Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana. TMZ reported that according to court documents filed in the Orange County Superior Court, Vanessa Bryant will be represented by high-profile divorce lawyer Laura Wasser — who has previously worked for Britney Spears, Angelina Jolie and Kim Kardashian — and attorney Samantha Klein.

A representative for the couple released a statement saying, ''The Bryants have resolved all issues incident to their divorce privately with the assistance of counsel and a Judgment dissolving their marital status will be entered in 2012.''

The couple have been married for 10 1/2 years and have two daughters, ages 8 and 5.

In the statement, the Bryants ''ask that in the interest of our young children and in light of the upcoming holiday season the public respect our privacy during this difficult time.''

The filing of the documents comes more than eight years after Vanessa Bryant stuck by the Lakers star after he was accused of sexually assaulting a Colorado woman.

The Colorado case was dropped when Bryant's accuser refused to testify.

Unidentified sources told TMZ that Vanessa Bryant was filing for divorce because she believed her husband had been unfaithful.

Report: Kobe close to Italy deal; takes Shaq feud international

The president of Italian club Virtus Bologna said the team has a verbal agreement with Kobe Bryant.

"We have reached an economic deal," Claudio Sabatini said in a radio interview. "There's still some things to arrange but at this point I'm very optimistic. I would say it's 95% done."

The Associated Press reports the deal to be $3 million for the first 40 days of the season.

UPDATE: AP reports the deal is threatened by scheduling issues. Apparently the Bologna team wants to change the schedule to have more early-season games played at its home arena, but other teams are balking at the switch.

Bryant, who grew up in Italy, would have a clause allowing him to return to the Lakers if the lockout ends.

Bryant, speaking on a radio station in Italy talked about the upcoming Olympics and explained his problems with "enemy" Shaquille O'Neal.

The two have been taking shots at each other since they won a third NBA title.

"I like players who workout. I use to do that 6-7 hours per day. I cannot stand players who practice for 30 minutes," Bryant was quoted via sportando.com. "I need to say something to them."

Kobe also confirmed he'll play in the 2012 Olympics and expects to see a familiar face challenging him.

"My friend Pau Gasol and his Spain will be the toughest opponents there," he said. "Playing Olympics is a great experience because you are playing for your country. There are big differences between winning the gold medal at Olympic Games and winning a ring with Lakers. London? I will surely be there."

Kobe Bryant gets $6.7 million offer to play in Italy

Kobe Bryant has received a big offer to play basketball in Italy during the NBA lockout.

Kobe Bryant has been offered a $6.7 million, one-season contract to play for the Italian team Virtus Bologna, appealing to his childhood memories of growing up in the country.

The Los Angeles Lakers superstar spent part of his youth in Italy while his father played there. He speaks Italian, prompting Bologna to hope he might return if there's an NBA lockout.

Virtus Bologna general manager Massimo Faraoni tells The Associated Press he's been on conference calls between Bryant's agent, Rob Pelinka, Bologna president Claudio Sabatini and main sponsor Canadian Solar, which would provide the cash for such a deal.

"I think the fact that he's lived in Italy makes this appealing to him," Faraoni said.

Virtus has given Bryant four different contract options, stretching from the one-year deal to two-month and one-month options, and a per-game deal that would come out to $739,640 per home game.

All of the offers are pretax and would allow Bryant to return to the Lakers immediately if the lockout ends.

Turkish club Besiktas and at least one team in China have expressed interest in the 33-year-old Bryant, who has won five NBA championships and been an All-Star 13 times.

Faraoni watched Bryant when he played in Pistoia's youth system in the late 1980s.

"I saw him when he was a kid, and he already had a lot of passion for the game then," Faraoni said.

Bryant's father, Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, played in Italy with Rieti, Reggio Calabria, Pistoia and Reggiana from 1984-1991. The elder Bryant now coaches the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA.

Virtus also reached out to Manu Ginobili, who played with Bologna before joining the San Antonio Spurs in 2002. Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari rejoined his former Italian club Olimpia Milano on Tuesday.

Other NBA players are committing to play in leagues outside the United States.

Nuggets free agents Wilson Chandler and J.R. Smith plan to play in China, Denver's Ty Lawson will play in Lithuania and New Jersey Nets All-Star Deron Williams signed with Turkish club Besiktas.

Virtus has won 15 Italian league titles but none since 2001, when it also won the Euroleague for the second time.

Virtus has asked fans to send messages supporting the recruitment of Bryant to a "Bologna for Bryant" email address, which will be published on the team's website.

Bologna opens the Italian league against Roma on Oct. 9. It did not qualify for this season's Euroleague, although the team has big ambitions after signing former Clemson point guard Terrell McIntyre, who led Siena to four consecutive Italian titles before transferring to Malaga in Spain last season.

"I think we already have a competitive squad for Serie A, but Kobe is obviously a great champion and he would make a great addition to the team," Faraoni said. "I would put us just behind Milano and Siena."

The NBA season usually begins in late October but owners and players have failed to agree on a new labor deal. The two sides are at odds over how to divide the league's revenue, a salary cap structure and the length of guaranteed contracts.