The stipulation for being eligible to compete for a roster spot on Team USA for the 2016 Rio Games is to attend minicamp in Las Vegas this week. 34 players were invited and attended. Someone like Kevin Love, who was invited but is still not cleared to play due to injury, is attending camp but not participating. Thus, he is still eligible to make the roster.
Kobe Bryant was not even one of the players invited to minicamp, but USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo says that Kobe could still end up making the roster.
From Chris Sheridan of SheridanHoops:
Kobe Bryant has a chance to be a member of the 2016 U.S. Olympic team, even though he is not attending Team USA’s minicamp this week, USA Basketball Executive Director Jerry Colangelo told SheridanHoops Tuesday.
“If he had a great year, it would be a great story for him to try to close out his career by winning a gold medal,” Colangelo said.
Bryant and Colangelo actually discussed the possibility in June during an NBA/USAB sponsorship conference in New York. Colangelo made no promises or guarantees, but made it clear to Bryant that if he is able to compete at a high level during the 2015-16 season, the door will be open for him to return to Team USA.
The big picture of this is loyalty and respect. After winning gold medals with Team USA in 2008 and 2012, Colangelo clearly appreciates Kobe’s value to USA Basketball and the Olympics by offering him a roster spot despite not being invited to minicamp.
Colangelo is also being realistic and objective about the circumstances. Kobe turns 37 years old this August and is coming off of two major injuries from the past two season. Colangelo did also say that the door would be open if Kobe can play at a high level next season. Basically, if Kobe can still play and still wants to play, the spot could be his.
Most expect the 2015-16 NBA season to be Kobe’s last. Whether it is with the Lakers on his last legs, or perhaps overseas, or maybe in Rio next summer, there are different scenarios surfacing that could ultimately serve as the final song of Kobe’s career.
