When Not Busy, Hoops Stars Flock To Beach Volleyball

Tags:

2008 Beijing Olympics,Athletes,Michael Phelps,Shaun Robinson,Kobe Bryant,LeBron James,Access Hollywood

enlarge

1/4

Access Hollywood
Shaun Robinson with Misty May-Treanor
Access HollywoodDarryl Henry
Kobe Bryant at beach volleyball, watching Misty and Kerri compete
Access HollywoodDarryl Henry
Kerri Walsh celebrates her semi-final victory over Brazil
Access HollywoodDarryl Henry
Jason Kidd at beach volleyball, watching Misty and Kerri compete

hottest galleries

more galleries

FIRST PUBLISHED: August 19, 2008 8:27 AM EDT
LAST UPDATED: August 19, 2008 8:56 AM EDT

By Jeremy Blacklow & Mike Marson

BEIJING, China --

With huge larger-than-life stars like Michael Phelps, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James dominating fan interest at these Olympics, it’s amazing that Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor could get any attention.

But guess whom Kobe and LeBron go to check out as spectators when they’re not competing – yep, that’s right, Kerri and Misty!

The beach volleyball court at Chaoyang Stadium was the place to be in Beijing at 9 AM Tuesday morning, when the aforementioned hoop stars were in attendance along with Jason Kidd. And it wasn’t Kobe’s first time to the courts – he went last week as well!

And it wasn’t their semi-final match today against Brazil (they won easily in two games; they play China for gold on Thursday morning) that had Misty and Kerri giddy – it was meeting the three Team U.S.A. basketball superstars.

“That was awesome,” Kerri said after meeting Kobe. “I started shaking.”

“What did you guys talk about back there?” Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson asked.

“Just that they have Australia coming up and they were excited that we won and they gave whoever they played a beat down,” Kerri said. “And they want to keep it up and we both want to win gold medals!”

Teammate Misty was even more enthusiastic, as she signed autographs for fans, but it was only one of the guys that got most of her attention.

“(Jason Kidd) knows he’s my favorite player,” Misty told Shaun. ”And I went in there with all the guys and I said, ‘I’m sorry guys. Jason Kidd’s my favorite player.’ And I think Kobe just had like this on his face [making a face] like, ‘Say what?’”

Then they talked about how Michael Phelps plans to attend their finale game on Thursday, and… how eligible he is.

“Who are we going to hook him up with?” Misty asked Shaun.

“We’ve got to hook him up with somebody.”

”Oh, is he single?” Kerri asked.

“I’ve got a lot of cute girlfriends.”

Keep your Access to everything in Hollywood! Breaking news and personal commentary from Nancy, Billy, Tony, Shaun, Maria & all of our producers! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter now!