Alibaba Teams Up With Kobe Bryant

Alibaba has partnered with Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant to create and distribute a series of Kobe-branded products in China and to release his documentary “Kobe Bryant’s Muse.” Demand for Bryant’s merchandise in China might seem an oddity to many, but Bryant has a strong fan base among the NBA-crazed Chinese millennials. “We are thrilled to work with Alibaba Group and Kobe Inc. to introduce Kobe’s philosophies and his inspiring life story to Chinese youth,” said Arthur Wei, microblogging platform Sina Weibo’s senior vice president. “Kobe is a beloved figure with over 3 million followers on his Sina Weibo account, and his stories are destined to inspire and motive many of his fans.”