Speaking on the ‘7PM in Brooklyn’ podcast, NBA legend Carmelo Anthony explained how Kobe Brant made Team USA complete. According to Melo, Kobe was the last piece they needed to win the Gold and get redemption for their defeat two years prior.
“We lost 2004 [in Athens], then we lost in the World Championship in 2006. So now, by this time, it had seeped into the hip-hop culture…. that right there shifted everything. It made the heads of USA basketball come together and like really figure this sh*t out. [Kobe Bryant] was the last piece that [Team USA] needed to do what we needed to do.”
Team USA was in a bad way leading up to the 2008 Olympics. After losing in back-to-back tournaments, the country had something to prove, and stars from all across the association came together to help save Team USA’s position at the top.
By the start of the tournament that summer, the roster consisted of many top athletes, including Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, and team captain Kobe Bryant.
With a stacked roster that was out for revenge, Team USA went undefeated that summer and brought the gold medal back to the USA in an impressive show of dominance. While Dwyane Wade was the team’s leading scorer that summer, it was. collective group effort that won them the prize
Of course, Kobe Bryant also played a large role in the performance. Anthony claims that it was Kobe who was the missing piece for the team, and his leadership throughout the tournament left a lasting impression on his star teammates.
Kobe Bryant Was Confronted During 2008 Olympic Run
The story of the 2008 Olympic team is one of epic resilience, redemption, and determination. Right when USA basketball looked the most vulnerable, the best players in the world responded by teaming up to show the world who really runs the sport.
During that summer, Kobe Bryant was on another level, and there are many stories of how his heroics and competitive spirit helped bring out the best in each of his teammates. There was even a moment when Bryant had to get checked by head coach Mike Krzyzewski.
According to Krzyzewski, things took an awkward turn that summer when he had to approach Kobe (the team captain) about his horrible shot selection. Mike recalls being nervous about the encounter and expected Bryant to react with frustration, confusion, or even anger.
Instead, Krzyzewski looked on in shock as Bryant admitted his mistakes, agreed with the coach, and committed to taking better shots. For a star of Kobe’s stature, who was in his absolute prime, it’s customary to let him run the show and take whatever shots he wants.
However, for a USA team that was completely locked in on the mission, they had no choice but to correct Bryant’s play, and he was more than open to criticism. Bryant went on to average 15.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game that summer in what turned out to be a massive success for Team USA.
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