It seems like this is Kobe Bryant’s last season, but he sounds like he wants to continue to play basketball at a high level for a few months after the season. Next summer, the Olympic Games are in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Kobe has recently expressed interest to play for the USA National Team.
“It would mean the world to me to be around those guys. I think to be able to have a chance to continue the relationship that I already have with most of those guys, talking and just kind of being around each other and understanding that this is it, it’s just us being together, that would be fun.”
Kobe, who helped the team win gold medals in 2008 in Beijing, China, and in 2012 in London, UK, would be a pretty good addition to the team. Kobe is one of the smartest players in the game right now, and he would be a great leader to the young stars on the team. Kobe also says he can help on the defensive end of the floor, saying,
“How I feel now is that I feel like I can add value from a leadership perspective and a defensive perspective,” Bryant said. “I can still move extremely well defensively.”
Kobe does move well for a 37 year old athlete, and he has always been a tough defender. Out of all of the players that are likely going to be on the team, having Kobe is not a bad idea. Kobe also grew up in Italy, so he knows a little bit more about international basketball than most NBA players.
“I would like to play,” Bryant said. “I think it’d be awesome. A beautiful experience. I’m a global kid. I grew up in Italy, I know a lot of athletes from different parts of the world, from different sports. It’d be great to play in that environment.”
It truly would be a great ending to his luxurious career if Kobe finished it with another gold medal around his neck. He would be a strong leader on the team, and he can help on the defensive end of the floor. I think that Coach K should put him on the team so he can finish his phenomenal career leading the national team to another gold medal.
