LA Lakers’ Kobe Bryant spotted on Apple’s campus, reportedly meeting with Jony Ive

Kobe Bryant on Apple campus

LA Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant has been photographed today along with his wife Vanessa on Appleā€™s 1 Infinite Loop campus in Cupertino, California. The two were reportedly meeting Apple’s design guru Jony Ive to talk upcoming new products. An image a tipster sent in clearly shows Bryant and Vanessa waiting for food.

Apple’s familiar corporate campus can be see in the background and image metadata confirms that the photo has indeed been taken with an iPhone on Appleā€™s campus…

As reported by Seth Weintraub who runs 9to5 blogs, word on the street is thatĀ the alleged meeting between Bryant and Ive “centered aroundĀ upcoming products”.

The author did not explain how Bryant’s basketball talent could help Apple develop new products.Ā It’s entirely possible that Apple is taking a page from Samsung’s marketing book and looking to cut an endorsement deal with celebrity athletes such as Bryant.

And which Apple products could Bryant possibly endorse?

A rumored iWatch is a viable possibility here.

Bryant in March 2013 signed an endorsement deal with Hublot, a watch brand based in Switzerland andĀ part of the LVMH luxury group.

It’s interesting that HublotĀ recently accused Apple of poaching its talent. Bryant also has an endorsement dealĀ with Lenovo andĀ Nike, the latter being his biggest endorsement deal. Another connection: Apple CEO Tim Cook sits on Nike’s board of director.

More food for thought: Nike recently announced plans toĀ shutter its wearable-hardware efforts and is said to be partnering with Apple on a fitness band that would control other devices via gestures.

In addition to Bryant, Apple is suspected of another puzzling celebrity deal that would see the firm buy Beats Electronics, LCC and install Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine as its executives.

Draw your own conclusions…

Maybe KobeĀ will go out on stage with Apple executives later this year to help promote iWatch?