Kobe Bryant: David Beckham Is Having a Huge Impact in the US

The Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar and the NBA’s Most Valuable Player has claimed that LA Galaxy star David Beckham is already making a big impact on American soccer. 

Kobe Bryant and his family have become close friends with the Beckham family since their move to California, and Bryant believes Beckham can help establish soccer as a major sport in the United States. 

As a matter of fact, Bryant believes the former Manchester United and Real Madrid winger is already winning over USA sports fans to soccer. 

“He can definitely help soccer become established here,” Bryant said. “He has already had a huge impact. 

“It just takes a little time. David is already playing to big crowds everywhere.” 

Bryant has had a spectacular season this year and his team is just one win away from reaching the NBA Finals. If the Lakers go on to win the Championship it would be their fourth since the turn of the millennium. 

But despite being occupied with the playoffs, Bryant admits he is still an avid soccer fan. The 29-year-old grew up in Italy, where people live and breathe soccer, known there as football, and Bryant even played up until his teens.

“I played soccer all the time in Italy, you almost have to when you're there,” said Bryant.

"Once I came back to the States, it obviously wasn't as popular. But soccer definitely helped my basketball—the footwork, the foot speed, just the rhythm of the game.”

And now Bryant is convinced David Beckham can benefit soccer in the United States in the same way that soccer benefited his basketball skills. 

Beckham is currently on international duty with England, where he received his 101^st cap against the United States at Wembley Stadium. The LA Galaxy star even set up the first goal of the game, bending a beautiful free-kick for John Terry to head past Tim Howard. 

But Beckham will return to the US shortly, where he hopes to continue making a big impact on American soccer with the LA Galaxy.