Kobe Bryant's last game as a pro will be with the Lakers. He stopped all speculation about potentially ending his career with the U.S. Men's National Team, saying that he won't pursue a spot on the team.
Kobe Bryant reveals he won’t play for USA Basketball in 2016 Rio Olympics
Bryant ended speculation about his potential participation in the 2016 Olympics.
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“I think it’s the young guys’ turn to go. I’ve had my moment,” Kobe said, according to The Deseret News’ Jody Genessy.
Bryant hadn’t dismissed the possibility of playing for Team USA in the summer after retiring from the NBA until now. It was assumed that after playing and winning gold in the past two Olympics, he could decide to go for a final ride with the national team. It’s clear now that he’s planning to be done with basketball as soon as the Lakers’ season ends.
While fans would have loved to see Bryant compete for something important one last time following a disappointing final stretch in his career, the decision seems to be wise. He already did his job by helping the program when it was at its worst, after it had failed to win gold in the 2002 World Championship and the 2004 Olympics. There’s a new generation of players ready to take over the national team, and Bryant won’t have to put his body through the grueling schedule of the Olympic games.
Bryant represented the U.S. in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics. He won a gold medal on both occasions.
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