El Segundo, Calif. ? Kobe Bryant denied a published report that he has contacted Texas freshman Kevin Durant.

A column in Tuesday’s Dallas Morning News implied that Bryant spoke with Durant on behalf of Nike to help nudge the 18-year-old star toward the NBA and a lucrative shoe contract.

Bryant was incredulous when he addressed the story.

“I’ve never spoken to him,” Bryant said. “I’ve never seen him. Obviously, he’s a phenomenal talent. I’ve watched him play on TV a couple of times. But I don’t know him at all.”

The story comes after two incidents in which NBA teams have been penalized for comments about or indirect contact with Durant, the potential top pick if he enters the NBA Draft this summer.