<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">When he was starring as a prep all-American at Lower Merion High School outside Philadelphia, Kobe Bryant considered playing basketball for Mike Krzyzewski. But that never happened. Bryant bypassed college, electing go to straight to the NBA rather than attend Duke. A year ago, Krzyzewski was approached by the Los Angeles Lakers to replace Phil Jackson and become Bryant's coach. But that didn't happen either, as Krzyzewski decided to stay at Duke. Just when Bryant thought he and Coach K would never be on the same side, along came Wednesday's announcement by USA Basketball naming Krzyzewski head coach of 2008 U.S. Olympic team. Assuming the Americans qualify for Beijing, look for Bryant to be on the floor as one of Krzyzewski's main men. "I was excited when I heard the news," Bryant said Friday before scoring 24 points in the Lakers' 105-103 NBA preseason win over the Sacramento Kings in front of a raucous crowd of 14,759 at the Thomas & Mack Center. "Ever since high school, I wanted to play for him. I'm looking forward to it." When asked if that meant Bryant was committing himself for the long haul, which means the FIBA World Championships in Japan next August or the Olympic qualifying tournament in 2007, he said, "Absolutely. I'm ready to do whatever they want. If I'm called to duty, I'm going to do it." Bryant said he has not expressed his interest directly to Krzyzewski or Jerry Colangelo, the managing director for the senior national team program. Colangelo said Wednesday he will sit down with each prospective team member and outline USA Basketball's expectations. Bryant said he didn't know about Colangelo's role in helping pick the 2008 team, nor did he know what to expect when he meets with Colangelo. Krzyzewski said he hoped to have the entire roster in place by next April to prepare for the World Championships. "I have absolutely no idea what he's going to ask me," Bryant said of Colangelo. "All I know is we have a challenge ahead of us." One thing Bryant can probably expect to be asked is his commitment to being the team's leader. It's a role he has taken on as coach Phil Jackson begins his second tour of duty with the Lakers. So far, Bryant said he's enjoying it. On Friday, he saved the Lakers as he hustled after his own missed shot in the key and scored with 45.8 seconds left, giving L.A. a 101-98 lead. With 3.6 seconds left, Bryant made one of two free throws to seal the win, the Lakers' fourth straight as they finished the preseason 6-2. "I'm just trying to be an extension of him," Bryant said of Jackson. "We had a tough season last season, so it's a process, an evolution we have to go through as a team. Every individual has to be held accountable." That is going to be Krzyzewski's philosophy as Olympic coach. He wants each player to be accountable and Bryant said he has no problem with that. "I understand he can be very demanding," Bryant said. "But I think that's great. I'm looking forward to that."</div> Review Journal
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"Ever since high school, I wanted to play for him. I'm looking forward to it."</div> This is great news for our team, Kobe Bryant is one of the SUPERstars we need to advance and win in the olympics. Good to see Kobe has respect for Mike Krzyzewski, it will be fun to see Mike coach Kobe. With Kobe being on the USA olympic team hopefully more superstars will follow and be a part of it. The Olympics is a huge/important thing and Kobe on the team will defenitely improve the squad.
I don't like the fact we use the NBA to represent the USA for the olympics. When you put the most egotistical coach (Larry Brown) with a squad of selfish egos, you are going to have an embarrassing team. It's great that coach K is coming in and that Kobe is playing, but they need to teach these guys some team ball if they are going to rep the U.S.
Is any one surprised by this? I mean Kobe was the guy who lobbied for coach K to become the head coach of the Lakers last season. It is clear that they have a very good relationship. I am happy to hear that these “superstars” will actually go and represent their country in the Olympics next time they roll around the situation that took place last Olympics with every superstar originally picked besides Duncan and Iverson dropped out was embarrassing.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Assuming the Americans qualify for Beijing, look for Bryant to be on the floor as one of Krzyzewski's main men.</div> is that supposed to be a jab at last years team? since when hasn't the us qualified?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">Is any one surprised by this? I mean Kobe was the guy who lobbied for coach K to become the head coach of the Lakers last season. It is clear that they have a very good relationship.</div> Of course I'm not suprised by this, seeing that it was in the News nearly 2 months ago that Kobe wanted to play in the Olympics, and even reported earlier on JBB here. Coach K being named coach has nothing to do with his decision despite the fact that Kobe respects him. Kobe wants to use the Olympics to rebuild his image. Kobe was quoted two weeks ago as saying ""I've been looking forward to playing in the next Olympics, if I'm fortunate enough to be selected and if I stay healthy.... It's a sense of pride. This is our sport. Us Americans really don't like being second in anything. That competitive streak comes out."" <div class="quote_poster">Quoting brok3n:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah we definately need a 'Dream Team' to form up again, good news..</div> I completely disagree. There will never be another "Dream Team" becuase today's best players aren't able to make personal sacrafices for the team and the country. What we need is a few exceptional players such as Bryant surrounded by role players who are willing to do dirty work and take smaller roles to help the team win such as Shane Battier. Hopefully with Coach K taking over he will take some of his team-oriented former players such as Battier and Duhon. Good, smart, unselfish players are what we need, not selfish superstars.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">Is any one surprised by this? I mean Kobe was the guy who lobbied for coach K to become the head coach of the Lakers last season. It is clear that they have a very good relationship. I am happy to hear that these ?superstars? will actually go and represent their country in the Olympics next time they roll around the situation that took place last Olympics with every superstar originally picked besides Duncan and Iverson dropped out was embarrassing.</div> Duncan and Iverson dropped out? That sucks.
yes! a perfect way for everyone to love kobe.........in the championship game, USA down 2, 5 seconds left of the fourth, kobe crosses some guy over, breaks the guy's ankles, jumps up for the three.......the buzzer sounds......and it's in! kobe bryant just won the gold for team USA! i can dream can't I?
Shaq will probably be too and slow old to play by then anyway. Sure, he will still be able to play basketball, but not like he used to. I think they should fill the team with a few unselfish superstars, and the rest should be great, unselfish roleplayers. http://www.suntimes.com/output/jackson/cst-spt-jax30.html I agree with this article too. The team should have some good shooters, because if the other teams play like they did last time, USA needs to be able to nail those uncontested shots.
Good to see the elite player for the 2 guard position step up to the plate. I just hope the rest of our best players follow Bryants example for the olympics.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting JWohl:</div><div class="quote_post">Of course I'm not suprised by this, seeing that it was in the News nearly 2 months ago that Kobe wanted to play in the Olympics, and even reported earlier on JBB here.</div> As this topic seems to have quite a few posts, I don't think many people knew about it. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting JWohl:</div><div class="quote_post">Coach K being named coach has nothing to do with his decision despite the fact that Kobe respects him. Kobe wants to use the Olympics to rebuild his image. Kobe was quoted two weeks ago as saying ""I've been looking forward to playing in the next Olympics, if I'm fortunate enough to be selected and if I stay healthy.... It's a sense of pride. This is our sport. Us Americans really don't like being second in anything. That competitive streak comes out.""</div> I think its unfair to say he just wants to play to rebuild his image. I think the main thing is that he wants to win a Gold medal. All the greats have Gold medals, why should he be any different? Its something to add to his legacy. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Char:</div><div class="quote_post">Would Shaq decline to play for the USA if Kobe is on the team?</div> I doubt Shaq is playing basketball by the time the Olympics come around in 2008.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Duncan and Iverson dropped out? That sucks.</div> No, they didn't drop out. BKS was saying how when they initially invited all of the NBA stars for the 04 Summer Games they all dropped out with the exception of Iverson & Duncan. Now whether they will be in next year's Team USA squad, I'm not sure. Duncan & A.I said they would love to return and the way Iverson represented the US last summer I'm sure they look to get him back on the team. Duncan on the other hand is Duncan, so I'm expecting him to get another invitation as well. If anything those two should be captains again, since they were the only superstar guys that actually wanted to play.
I wouldn't want Shaq to play anyway, he'd make America look bad. OH yeah and when they go to the Olympics, they can't have any luxuries that take their minds away from the game like when the US team was chillin on a yacht an d soaking it up when they should of been practicing.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I wouldn't want Shaq to play anyway, he'd make America look bad.</div> How would he make look America look bad? He's a team player and even though he can make goofy comments and all, for the most part he's a good represenative. From what I remeber, back when he played for Team USA he represented the country completly fine. Is there still a little envy between the whloe Kobe & Shaq thing which is why you said that?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Avery:</div><div class="quote_post">How would he make look America look bad? He's a team player and even though he can make goofy comments and all, for the most part he's a good represenative. From what I remeber, back when he played for Team USA he represented the country completly fine. Is there still a little envy between the whloe Kobe & Shaq thing which is why you said that?</div> Shaq is not a team player. He always blames his team for his own faults. Yeah when he played back for team USA it was all fine and dandy, but times have changed. He has immatured when he should of matured.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Avery:</div><div class="quote_post">How would he make look America look bad? He's a team player and even though he can make goofy comments and all, for the most part he's a good represenative. From what I remeber, back when he played for Team USA he represented the country completly fine. Is there still a little envy between the whloe Kobe & Shaq thing which is why you said that?</div> Shaq is not a team player. He always blames his team for his own faults. Yeah when he played back for team USA it was all fine and dandy, but times have changed. He has immatured when he should of matured. What's he gonna do if he played again, blame the USA for the game he couldn't win?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting YourNewChef:</div><div class="quote_post">I wouldn't want Shaq to play anyway, he'd make America look bad. OH yeah and when they go to the Olympics, they can't have any luxuries that take their minds away from the game like when the US team was chillin on a yacht an d soaking it up when they should of been practicing.</div> ya its shaq that would make america look bad... i don't even want to get into why you should have replaced shaq's name with kobe.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting YourNewChef:</div><div class="quote_post">Shaq is not a team player. He always blames his team for his own faults. Yeah when he played back for team USA it was all fine and dandy, but times have changed. He has immatured when he should of matured. What's he gonna do if he played again, blame the USA for the game he couldn't win?</div> You are saying a lot of things but all I'm hearing is that you are still bitter about Shaq leaving the Lakers and having huge amounts of success.
