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Kobe Bryant on 'Game of Thrones'? Photo with author sparks buzz

From the game of basketball to the "Game of Thrones"? Casting rumors abound after the retired NBA star hugs author George R. R. Martin in a photo.

Gael Cooper
CNET editor Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, a journalist and pop-culture junkie, is co-author of "Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? The Lost Toys, Tastes and Trends of the '70s and '80s," as well as "The Totally Sweet '90s." She's been a journalist since 1989, working at Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Sidewalk, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and NBC News Digital. She's Gen X in birthdate, word and deed. If Marathon candy bars ever come back, she'll be first in line.
Expertise Breaking news, entertainment, lifestyle, travel, food, shopping and deals, product reviews, money and finance, video games, pets, history, books, technology history, generational studies. Credentials
  • Co-author of two Gen X pop-culture encyclopedia for Penguin Books. Won "Headline Writer of the Year"​ award for 2017, 2014 and 2013 from the American Copy Editors Society. Won first place in headline writing from the 2013 Society for Features Journalism.
Gael Cooper
2 min read

When you think of it, "Kobe" could be a "Game of Thrones" name. Like Tommen and Joffrey, it's just unusual enough to make the grade. And at 6' 6" (198cm), retired NBA star Kobe Bryant isn't quite as tall as Hodor (6 ' 11", 210 cm), but he could probably hold the door like the pro that he is.

Late on Thursday, Bryant tweeted out a photo he took with George R.R. Martin, author of the books that inspired the series, and praised his storytelling skills.

Fans of both men were delighted.

And though it seems unlikely, some dreamed of Bryant snagging a role on "Game of Thrones."

Maybe battling Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane.

Maybe Bryant, dubbed the Black Mamba, should have taken on Oberyn Martell, the Red Viper. Uh, it may be too late for that plotline.

And Jon Snow and crew could always use his help with the White Walkers.

Others urged Bryant to nudge Martin to reveal when he'll finally finish "Winds of Winter," the long-awaited next book in the "Song of Ice and Fire" book series that turned into the HBO hit series.

But Bryant, who told Sports Illustrated last summer that he binge-watched the entire "Game of Thrones" series, may not be finished meeting all his favorite super-successful fantasy authors. Turns out he's also a Harry Potter fan.

Martin, back to the bench to get writing. Rowling, suit up.

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