USA Basketball implemented a strict rule last August as far as who would have a shot at making up the team for the 2016 Rio Olympics and there were a lot of absentees at the time.
One of them was Kobe Bryant who was of course still trying to recover from a torn rotator cuff which he suffered earlier in the year.
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Just the same, USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo eased up a bit by simply asking the walking wounded to simply be there to show their interest. Bryant wasn’t around so that practically erased him from possible consideration.
But now there seems to be a new twist in the air, particularly because Bryant had announced his retirement recently via the Player’s Tribune. That plus the fact that Bryant hinted he would love to be part of the team somehow casts a dark shadow to the Black Mamba’s possible final stint for Team USA.
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"It would mean the world to me to be around those guys," Bryant said via the Associated Press. "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."
Colangelo didn’t make any promises on considering Bryant, though it looks like seeing the retiring player donning the USA colors isn’t totally out of the picture as hinted during his interview with USA Today.
In all, it seems that the five-time NBA champion will have to prove he deserves to be part of that squad, though his early struggles have somehow dampened his chances. That plus the fact that he doesn’t want favors, gifts or special treatment could douse water on all hope of seeing him end his playing career on a high note.
With these things in mind, could Bryant have made the decision for USA Basketball instead?
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