The end is nigh and Kobe Bryant knows it. In his final contract year, Bryant says he’ll make a decision regarding retirement after the season is over, which is likely eight months from now for him. If he retires after this season, USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo says Kobe could go out with a gold medal.
Speaking to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Colangelo sure leaves no doubt when it comes to Kobe.
"“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.'”"
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Since the Los Angeles Lakers won’t be winning any championships anytime soon, a gold medal after ruling the 2016 Rio Olympics with Team USA could be the next best thing in Bryant’s career. It’d be the perfect opportunity for him to compete against some of the players that watched him play while they were growing up. To let Bryant go out and win another gold in the Olympics. That’s so Kobe.
Kobe told Colangelo that he wanted to earn it. But let’s be honest, we’re not sure if the Black Mamba can even finish a season let alone earn a spot on the Olympic Team, but you won’t see me counting Mr. Bryant out. D’Angelo Russell already learned his lesson for doing that.
It’ll be hard for him to earn a spot, but if he can finish the season healthy and play at a pretty solid level there’s no reason why he couldn’t “make the team.”
I recalled back to watching The Dream Team documentary on NBA TV and how old Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were when they were playing for Team USA back in 1992. Bird was hitting shots and resting his back and Magic was running the floor making beautiful passes while Karl Malone sat in fear of catching HIV from one of those passes.
And to see Kobe becoming that old guy challenging players in a one-on-one practice, and teaching the kids a thing or two would be a great way to end his career, certainly an ESPN 30 for 30 in the making.
Hopefully our last sight of Kobe on a basketball court will be Kobe waving goodbye to fans, rockin’ a gold medal on his neck while holding back tears (OK, there won’t be any tears) and finally walking out of the arena. It’d be a fitting end to a Hall of Fame career.
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