Kobe Bryant In NBA2K16 -- 'Visit Sick Friend' Option ... 'Just a Coincidence'

It seemed like a joke in the wake of the Lamar Odom incident -- but apparently, the option to "visit sick friend with Kobe Bryant" is a real thing in the NBA2K16 video game.

Of course, Bryant really did "visit sick friend" in Vegas last week when he raced to the hospital to be with his friend Lamar Odom.

So, when images from the NBA2K16 video games started making the round on social media -- many people thought it was just a joke in bad taste to mock the situation.

Turns out, it's real -- with a rep for the company behind the game telling TMZ Sports, "This is a real thing."

The rep says the outing with Kobe is an option in the "MyCareer" game mode where players can do a variety of things including visiting friends and attending events.

"This just happens to be very coincidental given recent events."