NBA star Kobe Bryant arrived in Seoul on Thursday as part of an Asian tour organized by his sponsor Nike to promote basketball here.

The LA Lakers guard arrived in Gimpo Airport on his private jet around 11 a.m. Thursday. After a brief news conference, he went directly to Korea University in Seoul to host a mini clinic for local high school and university students.

<YONHAP PHOTO-1201> NBA 스타 코비 브라이언트 (서울=연합뉴스) 이상학 기자 = 미국프로농구(NBA)의 스타플레이어 코비 브라이언트(LA 레이커스)가 한국팬들을 만나기 위해 14일 오후 김포공항을 통해 입국, 취재진에게 포즈를 취하고 있다. 2011.7.14 leesh@yna.co.kr/2011-07-14 12:59:00/ <저작권자 ⓒ 1980-2011 ㈜연합뉴스. 무단 전재 재배포 금지.> NBA basketball star Kobe Bryant poses for a photo on his arrival at Gimpo Airport as a part of his Asian tour on Thursday. Yonhap News
NBA 스타 코비 브라이언트 (서울=연합뉴스) 이상학 기자 = 미국프로농구(NBA)의 스타플레이어 코비 브라이언트(LA 레이커스)가 한국팬들을 만나기 위해 14일 오후 김포공항을 통해 입국, 취재진에게 포즈를 취하고 있다. 2011.7.14 leesh@yna.co.kr/2011-07-14 12:59:00/ <저작권자 ⓒ 1980-2011 ㈜연합뉴스. 무단 전재 재배포 금지.> NBA basketball star Kobe Bryant poses for a photo on his arrival at Gimpo Airport as a part of his Asian tour on Thursday. Yonhap News

NBA basketball star Kobe Bryant poses for a photo on his arrival at Gimpo Airport as a part of his Asian tour on Thursday. (Yonhap News)

The 32-year-old NBA player played one-on-one games with local players, and also spoke with a group of fans, delivering his passion for basketball.

Bryant last visited Korea in 2006. He is an NBA great, setting numerous scoring records in the league, including a career-high 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in 2006. He led the Lakers to two consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010 season, and was named NBA Finals MVP on both year. He kicked off his five-city Asian tour in Manila on Wednesday, and will now visit various cities in China.

By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldm.com)