Slam dunk: In the court of endorsements, sex charge means the end for NBA star

A sexual assault charge could put an end to NBA superstar Kobe Bryant's endorsement deals - even if he is found innocent.

Robert Tuchman, president of TSE Sports and Entertainment, said the Los Angles Lakers guard might lose lucrative deals with Nike, McDonald's, Coca-Cola's Sprite brand and others.

"Kobe worked so hard to keep his image spotless and now he will be seen in a different light," Tuchman said. "If he was seen as a 'bad boy' before this, it would be one thing, but his image was so sterile, even boring, so this unravels everything."

Bryant is charged with sexually assaulting a 19-year-old front-desk employee at a Colorado resort.

Although details of Bryant's endorsements aren't public, many such contracts contain so-called moral clauses that allow companies to cancel them if an athlete steps out of line.

Bryant earns about US$20 million ($34.78 million) a year pitching products. Last month, he signed a five-year deal with Nike reportedly worth at least US$40 million.

Ronn Torossian, president of 5W Public Relations, doubts Bryant will ever again appear in a major commercial.

"Kobe had his spotlight run as a marketer, but he is now going the way of Mike Tyson, Dennis Rodman and others," he said. "Maybe some renegade company would be crazy enough, but his days of Sprite, Nike and McDonald's are long over."

Torossian said Bryant was probably finished, even if he was found innocent.

"Yes, there is a concept of innocent until proven guilty, but that's in the court of law - not in the court of endorsements."

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It's a case of four into three as the fight for NBL semifinal spots reaches crunch point this weekend.

Auckland, Manawatu, Wellington and Nelson all have chances to make the playoffs, with Manawatu's 86-81 win over Auckland last weekend leaving just four points between the rivals.

Waikato, on 28, are safely through with a six-point lead over Auckland, who are two points clear of Manawatu and Wellington.

Nelson are in touch two points further back.

The key game is in Palmerston North on Saturday night. A win for the home side over the Giants - coupled with Wellington's expected win against bottom-placed North Harbour - could spell the end for the Nelson side.

Their run-in - away to the Titans next Friday night then away to Taranaki - is demanding and their fate will not be entirely in their own hands.

The Stars host the Titans - No 2 v No 1 - at Unitec Stadium on Saturday night in the marquee game of the round, with a tip-off time of 6pm.

The other games on Saturday have the Canterbury Rams hosting the Otago Nuggets and Taranaki at home to the Hawkes Bay Hawks.

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Australia won the world junior championships in Thessaloniki, Greece. Lithuania finished second and Greece third.

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Dennis Rodman is serious about his mooted comeback to the NBA.

The 42-year-old wildman, both on and off court, has been linked to the Sacramento Kings and insisted he did not want to join "a losing team."

Rodman was a member of two championship sides - the Detroit Pistons (1989 and 1990) and the Chicago Bulls (1996, 1997 and 1998).

He rubbished suggestions that he might have to accept a contract which put strict controls on his behaviour, which has often put him at odds with referees.

"I'm going to be Dennis Rodman. I'm an entertainer."

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Australian coach Brian Goorjian has named 17 players for a training camp to prepare for a trip to Europe and their Olympic qualifying series with New Zealand.

Included are all 12 players who beat the Czech Republic 3-0, plus Sydney Olympian Jason Smith and two former NBA draftees in CJ Bruton and David Andersen, who were unavailable for the Czech series.

The Aussies are in a six-day camp at Gosford, north of Sydney, from Monday before flying to Greece for a tournament including the home side, Lithuania, Latvia and Russia.

The three-test series with the Tall Blacks starts in Bendigo on September 1. The other matches are in Geelong on September 3 and Melbourne on September 4.

Boomers for Gosford camp:

David Andersen (Kinder Bologna, Italy); Chris Anstey (Ural Great, Russia); Stephen Black (Brisbane Bullets); CJ Bruton (Sydney Kings); Mathew Campbell (Wollongong Hawks); Martin Cattalini (Adelaide 36ers); Shane Heal (Sydney Kings); Sam Mackinnon (West Sydney Razorbacks); Mathew Nielsen (Sydney Kings); John Rillie (West Sydney); Paul Rogers (Adelaide 36ers); Tony Ronaldson (Perth Wildcats); Damien Ryan (Brisbane Bullets); Glen Saville (Wollongong Hawks); Jason Smith (Scavoloni Pesaro, Italy); David Stiff (Sydney Kings); Brett Wheeler (Sydney Kings).