• LeBron James wanted to motivate Kobe Bryant at all costs during the 2008 Olympics
• Clear audio of on-court interactions between Kobe and LeBron from the ’08 Olympics have leaked
• James was cursing at Kobe but only to keep the Black Mamba focused on his strengths
The 2008 Olympics led to the blossoming of a friendship between LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, as the Mamba took James under his wing and mentored him during the competition.
Even though Kobe was the big brother in this pairing, James wasn’t going to let Kobe get away with sloppy play on the court, as evidenced by this recently leaked audio of James yelling at Kobe to clean up his shot selection during a game.
“Watch the shots that you’re taking motherf*cker. Drive that b*tch!”
LEAKED Audio Of LeBron James Motivating Kobe Bryant During The 2008 Olympic Finals👀:
“Watch the shots that you’re taking motherf*cker… Drive that b*tch!”
Also, you can see LeBron telling Kobe that they only had 3 team fouls. He wanted him to be more aggressive defensively‼️ pic.twitter.com/POUWKKZmDB
— LegendZ (@legendz_prod) September 4, 2023
From what we know about Kobe’s mentality, he probably appreciated that. He rarely had teammates who called him out, primarily because they could never outwork him at anything. LeBron was Kobe’s on-court equal and let the star know that he couldn’t falter when the country needed him most.
The ’08 Team USA roster walked their way to an easy Gold medal after the disappointment of the 2004 Olympics.
The 2008 Olympics Was Team USA’s Redemption
The 2008 Olympic roster for Team USA was carefully picked out. After most legitimate NBA stars declined to go for the 2004 Olympics, forcing Team USA to send rookies like LeBron and Carmelo Anthony to win Gold. That failed, as they just brought home the Bronze in a humiliating moment for USA Basketball. Naturally, they were going to come with a vengeance in 2008.
The team was carefully chosen, even involving the inputs of Team USA legends like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Jerry West, and more. The core of the team was formed by Kobe and LeBron, who were joined by Carmelo, Dwyane Wade, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, and Chris Bosh, among others.
Kobe was the heart of the team and was in a locker room filled mostly with players who idolized him. Players like Carmelo would take the LeBron route of motivating Kobe by telling him harsh truths on the court. This all culminated in a beautiful Olympic run for a team that’s since come to be known as ‘The Redeem Team’ and often compared to the 1992 Dream Team.
LeBron James Never Shies Away From Responsibility
Whether you love him or hate him, what LeBron has achieved in the NBA is undeniable. The respect he commands from fellow players, especially the next generation that is entering the league, is quite incredible. Everyone understands that James is a pillar of modern basketball, even if his argument for GOAT will always be scrutinized in comparison to Michael Jordan.
James has averaged 27.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.3 assists over 20 years while making 19 All-NBA Teams and 19 All-Star teams. That is an incredible track record for the player with the greatest longevity the league has ever seen.
The all-time scoring leader is also a four-time champion who won Finals MVP for every single one of his title wins. He’s also a four-time regular season MVP, though many argue he should’ve won more.
LeBron has always been willing to lead from the front, both on and off the court. We’ve seen his leadership in moments like this clip with Kobe or in moments when he’s leading the Lakers to win in the Orlando bubble, something players were calling prison. His resume is undeniable, and he’s one of the greatest to ever do it.
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