Kobe Bryant had the opportunity to join the Chicago Bulls in 2004 as a free agent and again was linked to them in 2007 when he seeking a trade from the Los Angeles Lakers.

Bryant said he "very much" thought he had a chance of joining the Bulls in 2004.

"My wife and I were actually planning travel arrangements to come out to Chicago and look at some homes and schools and things like that," Bryant said. "Then once [Shaquille O'Neal] demanded a trade, it was like, 'There's no way they're going to trade me anywhere.' The sign-and-trade option just pretty much went off the table. "

Bryant later added: "So if I was fortunate enough to come here, if that trade had happened and I'd be here, it's not a pressure situation to live up to what he's done. It's more, can I carry on this man's legacy? Can I do it justice? Can I represent Chicago the way that it should be represented in his honor? Just a tremendous, tremendous amount of influence."

The Lakers and Bulls agreed to the framework of a trade in 2007 but Bryant exercised his no trade clause because Chicago was giving up Luol Deng.