Kobe Bryant on Team USA (Photo : Twitter)
Los Angeles Lakers start Kobe Bryant has announced his retirement at the end of the season and teams all over the NBA are giving him retirement tributes.
Another team might choose to celebrate his career by giving him a coveted slot-Team USA. According to TMZ Sports conversation with Team USA rep Craig Miller, Kobe is indeed being considered for inclusion.
"Kobe is one of 34 players in the U.S. Men's National team pool. The 12 players who will play for Team USA are selected from that pool."
That is a fact, and Coach Mike Krzyzewsky did include Kobe in that pool. In essence, he really is being considered. However, perhaps due to age and the depth of that pool, it seemed that Miller needed to justify further.
"Kobe's been involved with the national team since 2007. It's not like he has to prove himself."
As expected, there are critics of Team USA actually giving Bryant a slot on the team considering his present quality of play and the fact that there are 33 other superstars who want to part of the team. Players in the pool who are in Bryant's off-guard/shooting guard position alone include LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Carmelo Anthony, Klay Thompson and Bradley Beal.
All these players are playing much better than Bryant now and this is why FanSided's Phil Naegely wrote that Bryant should not be included in the final 12-man roster.
He suggests that Bryant attend practices and perhaps be part of the coaching staff, but for him to be in the 12-man team will be "foolish" and his poor play wouldn't help the team towards another gold medal."
It implies that Bryant would be a waste of a slot that should go to "a more deserving player."
Bryant himself was quoted by Team USA director Jerry Colangelo in ESPN saying that he does want to end his career with a stint in the Rio Olympics "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."
