Neymar’s connection with the NBA has been evident throughout his career, regularly attending games and interacting with some of the sport’s biggest stars.
The Brazilian has often spoken about his admiration for Kobe Bryant and has built a close friendship with Golden State Warriors star Jimmy Butler over the years.
Despite those links, his personal trophy room only features a select number of NBA tributes alongside his football achievements.
Neymar reveals Stephen Curry, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant’s jerseys in the trophy room
In a video published on his YouTube channel last Monday, Neymar showed that he keeps NBA jerseys of Stephen Curry, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant in his trophy room.
The selection reflects his admiration for some of the most influential players in basketball history, particularly Bryant, who has long been an inspiration for him.
In that context, fans were quick to notice the absence of any Butler jersey, given their well-documented friendship.
While that raised questions, it is possible that Butler’s shirt is simply kept elsewhere rather than displayed in the same space.
Neymar names dream NBA line-up but leaves out Kobe Bryant
Neymar has also shared which NBA players he would choose if he owned a team.
He said: “Damn, I like so many of them [NBA stars]. Curry, LeBron, Jordan, Irving, Durant, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green. Seven. Those are the guys I would like to have on my team.”
This time it was another contradiction that drew attention: the list includes his close friend Butler, but notably omits Kobe Bryant.
It could be argued that Bryant was left out due to the fact that he has passed away in 2020. However, he chose Michael Jordan, who is not an active player for over two decades, so his criterion remains unclear.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
