Kobe Bryant failed to lead the Lakers to the NBA Finals, but that's not stopping him from taking his personal philanthropy to the next level.
Imagination is a wonderful thing, and Kobe is using his creative side to cook up some original ways to raise funds for the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation Youth Homelessness Initiative.
For example, Kobe plans to auction off a chance to play him in a game of H-O-R-S-E on July 2 in Santa Barbara, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Lakers star will give the unwashed fans an opportunity to bid for the game of a lifetime.
Aside from being really cool, what kind of bragging rights will a fan have after taking on the fifth-leading scorer in NBA history? Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone and Kareem Abul-Jabbar are the only men to have scored more than Kobe in NBA history.
In addition, with the Kings in the Stanley Cup Final, Bryant is holding a drawing to score a pair of his personal tickets to Game 4 of the series with the New Jersey Devils at Staples Center. Fans can pay $10, $25, $50, $75 and $100 to enter that Stanley Cup ticket drawing.
"As many of you know, Los Angeles is the homelessness capital of America," Bryant said on a website promoting the auction. "My foundation is working to end homelessness in our great city, but I can't do it without your help. It will take a lot of effort but WE as a community can get it done. Help me raise money for this great cause."
Kobe and Vanessa were spotted together at Kings playoff games with one of the couple's daughters. Bryant has also shown what a puck head he truly is with a video supporting the Kings run to the Stanley Cup.
-- Follow Ben Maller on Twitter @BenMaller.
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