Kobe Bryant has intimated that 2015-16 may be the final campaign of his career, but it may extend beyond the Lakers and into the 2016 Rio Olympics.
USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo spoke at the end of Team USA's minicamp on Thursday and revealed he had a conversation with the five-time NBA champion about possibly joining the 12-man roster next summer.
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"I was quoted on Kobe," Colangelo said at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, according to ESPN. "In response to a question about him, I said it would be a great story if he did [play in Rio]."
He continued: "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.'"
Kobe Bryant 'Absolutely' Believes 2015-16 Could Be His Final Season
Bryant is entering his 20th NBA season and is set to turn 37 next month, but he hasn't committed to the 2015-16 campaign being his final season. The 17-time All-Star did say he "absolutely" believes this could be his swan song in the league, but he wouldn't be sure until the season is over.
Bryant's main focus is on turning around a star-crossed franchise that has been historically bad the past two seasons and whiffed in luring top free agents this offseason
Los Angeles finished with a then-franchise-worst 27-55 record in 2013-14, and then went 21-61 last season, again missing the playoffs. The last time the Lakers made the postseason was 2013, when they were swept by the Spurs in the first round.
The Lakers guard also will look to stay healthy, as he sustained a season-ending injury for the third consecutive year in 2014-15 when he suffered a torn right rotator cuff. He averaged 22.3 points in 35 games prior to the injury.
Bryant didn't participate in Team USA minicamp as he was vacationing with his family in Japan, but he will still have an opportunity to play if he chooses to.
"I always said you never shut the door entirely on anyone," Colangelo said. "I mean why? To prove what?"
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