Kobe Bryant’s performance against Australia was influenced by Carmelo Anthony – NBA Update
Going into Wednesday night’s quarterfinal game against Australia, Kobe Bryant had merely been a spectator at the London Olympics did not put up even a single performance; everyone has grown accustomed to seeing from the Los Angeles
Lakers man over the years.
That show was bound to take place and after averaging 9.4 points against the likes of Lithuania, Nigeria and France in the preliminary rounds, the Black Mamba silenced all his critics by a barrage of three pointers in the second.
Bryant made six three pointers which included a four in a row stint mid-way during the final quarter. The burst effectively ended all Aussies hopes of an upset win and fellow team mate Carmelo Anthony believes that it was he, who
sparked Kobe to come out strong with his halftime pep talk.
“I was on him,” Anthony said. “I woke the bomb up, and he responded in the third quarter. I knew which button to push.”
The push from Anthony did the trick as Bryant came out fiercely in the second half and hammered 20 points which eventually helped team USA hand out a 33 point drubbing to the Aussies.
In an interview after the game, Bryant acknowledged Anthony’s part in his performance.
“I wasn’t playing a good tournament. … he told me he wanted to see me,” Bryant said. “For some reason, it was my night. When you play with this team, you get a lot of open shots. I was just waiting for something to get me going.
I got some shots, got into rhythm.”
Kobe Bryant’s effort was so unique and brilliant that it overshadowed a record breaking night from Miami Heat icon LeBron James, who became the first basketball player ever to record a triple double in an Olympic game.
A few more of those performances from Bryant, and team USA would be standing at the top of the podium fashioning a gold medal. This win, especially the fashion of it, will definitely go out as a warning to all the other teams remaining
in the competition as the likes of Bryant and James are just starting to get into their act.
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