BIG3 co-founder not closing door on Kobe: 'I don't know that he's not coming'

Despite a denial from Kobe Bryant's camp, BIG3 co-founder Jeff Kwatinetz still thinks the Los Angeles Lakers great will join the three-on-three league.

Kwatinetz said on a Tuesday conference call that he heard Bryant would be suiting up for the BIG3, but the rumor was put to rest soon after by the chief marketing officer of Kobe Inc., Molly Carter. When asked about the "mix-up" on Wednesday, Kwatinetz stood by his claim.

"There's no mix-up. Someone who's a good source, who I'm not gonna reveal, says he's gonna play," Kwatinetz told TMZ Sports. "His CMO says he's done, he told (Ice) Cube he's done, but every year, we have guys who say they're not gonna play who end up playing. And every year we have guys who say they're gonna play and never hear from them again.

"... I don't know that he's not coming. I'll know in February."

Ice Cube told "The Rich Eisen Show" last week that although Bryant has repeatedly turned down his requests to join the BIG3, he won't stop recruiting him.