Kobe Bryant has a chance to become one of the most illustrious players to ever be a member of the United States Olympics Men’s basketball team.
During the 2016 Olympics, which take place in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, if Kobe so chooses to, he could join LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony as the only three players to ever get 3 consecutive gold medals as members of the men’s Olympic national team.
That’s right. Michael Jordan didn’t do it, neither did Karl Malone and David Robinson came close but he didn’t get that third gold.
So what better way to end an illustrious basketball career than to play with the best players in the world and achieve the ultimate award for your country, winning an olympic gold medal.
Following from ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
“I was quoted on Kobe,” Colangelo said after USA Basketball’s intrasquad scrimmage at the Thomas & Mack Center. “In response to a question about him, I said it would be a great story if he did [play in Rio].
“And so, he also mentioned to me in a private conversation that if he had his druthers, he would love to ride off into the sunset playing one more time and winning the gold medal. And that would be the end. But he was very quick to say, ‘But, I don’t want a spot. I need to earn the spot. I need to be capable of playing at that level to be considered.’ And I said, ‘You got that. That’s always there for you, Kobe.'”
Bryant is essentially guaranteed a spot on the 2016 USA Olympic team in Rio, if he wants it and by the looks of it, Kobe might take up Colangelo’s offer.
He wasn’t present for the Team USA Mini-camp this past week, despite Jerry Colangelo making the mini-camp mandatory for anyone wanting to play next summer. No one was safe from this mandate, not even former Team USA member and feel-good story from last summer’s gold medal team in the 2014 FIBA World Cup, Derrick Rose, who didn’t appear at the mini-camp.
This could mean the writing is on the wall for this upcoming season. The 2015-16 campaign might be the last for Kobe Bryant not only as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers but also as a member of USA Basketball.
