Kobe Bryant expects himself to be the ‘closer’ for Team USA during the London Olympics – NBA Update
A five time NBA Champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant has now got his eyes set on becoming a back to back gold medallist at the Olympic stage. There is still a long way to go before the American contingent take to court
in the Final game, however Bryant has vowed to bring out his best when it comes to closing matches during the Olympics.
"It's a big challenge for us," Bryant said. "The rest of the world, they feel like the gap is shrinking and they can beat us.
"We know what's at stake. Come Olympic time we're going to be ready and we're going to bring the gold medal back to the United States."
The Black Mamba has been a part of team USA’ lineup for the past three Olympics and was present when the United States, a team filled with NBA stars, could only manage a Bronze medal finish in 2004. Coming back four years later
with fresh recruits like LeBron James and Carmelo Antony to lead alongside, Bryant and the Americans found redemption in winning gold and will now look to repeat their exploits for Beijing.
Bryant would be hoping to repeat his performance of the final against Spain in Beijing, during which he scored 13 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, and continue to live up to the bidding of being the best closer in the game
of basketball.
"I'm just the closer. They bring me in if they need me," Bryant said. "Let them go out there and do all the work. Down the stretch if the ball comes to me, [I will] knock them down, just what I did in Beijing. Same thing."
He even went on to declare that his services can be used in any way possible by Coach Mike Krzyzewski - a promise he probably would have to live up to given the void created due to the absence of Dwyane Wade.
The Americans are definitely going to miss their star presences including the likes of Wade, Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose come the Olympics, but regardless of that, they are still the team to beat when the tournament kicks off
on 29th July.
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