<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> LOS ANGELES -- <u><font color="#00009b">Kobe Bryant</font></u> acknowledged Friday that his legal problems will probably prevent him from playing in this summer's Olympic Games. Bryant's agent, Rob Pelinka, released a statement saying the Los Angeles Lakers' star informed USA Basketball that it is unlikely Bryant will be able to compete due to scheduling conflicts concerning his sexual assault charge in Colorado. But Bryant hopes to keep the door open concerning participation in the Games, to be held Aug. 13-29 in Athens. "Bryant expressed his intentions at this time to allow USA Basketball ample time to seek a replacement player," Pelinka's statement read in part. "Bryant also relayed a desire to keep the option open of playing for the USA team if there is a change in the scheduling or a dismissal of the case." USA Basketball executive director Jim Tooley said it is "unfortunate" Bryant won't be able to participate. "We appreciate the timing of his decision," Tooley said. "This will allow USA Basketball the time needed to identify the best possible replacement."</div> http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1793220
Good decision. With all the distractions popping up this offseason, Kobe needs to rest and chill. We need him ready for next season, and he can't be bottled up mentally right now either. Yet it would be good to see him bring the US some gold hardware home from the Olympics sometime in his career!
Good for whichever team that Kobe is playing on next year. Kobe will be 110% for next season with a full offseason's rest and no surgeries (so far...). Bad for Team USA. A lot of players are dropping out of this years Olympics and Kobe is the latest victim. There are plenty of people to step in his place but his absence is still very significant to the US' chances of winning a gold. I would suggest Artest or Pierce as a possible replacement for him.
Unfortunate for the US team that he might not play, but I still do not think that Team USA will get smoked, considering they have the best players in the world. But whether the team he decides to be with next, he will be at full health.
First Kevin Garnett now Kobe Bryant. But this is nothing that TeamUSA won't be able to handle. We still got Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Mike Bibby and some others. I still expect to go undefeated.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting DajuanWagner#2:</div><div class="quote_post">^Still they might get Shaq, KG and Martin...</div> KG dropped out. I don't think Shaq will end up going either, just a feeling.
Kobe hasn't ever played for the US so far right? I didn't know that KG dropped out too, and I wouldn't be surprised if Shaq didn't particapate himself. Whoo, the US looks like they might be in trouble again like 2 years ago.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TMac_OwNz:</div><div class="quote_post">lol US going to get smoked , no Kobe no T-Mac and no Kidd?</div> We still have enough talent to take on everyone else. Its good for him to take off and rest this summer bc he already has enough distractions. He needs to take this case seriously and not worry about the olympics. I think a rape case trial is a more important than a basketball game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Banks:</div><div class="quote_post"> We still got Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Mike Bibby and some others. I still expect to go undefeated.</div> I think that Iverson and McGrady will be bad for the team. Team USA needs team players who can win and do more than score. Neither Iverson or McGrady are winners or good teammates. Any word on whether or not Cassell and Artest have been offered a spot?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Banks:</div><div class="quote_post">First Kevin Garnett now Kobe Bryant. But this is nothing that TeamUSA won't be able to handle. We still got Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Mike Bibby and some others. I still expect to go undefeated.</div> It's not about having the best players but about playing the best team basketball. Back in the world championship the USA had the best players, but didn't succeed because they didn't play a team game. They didn't execute smoothly the pick and roll and didn't manage to defend it against team like argentina.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting tidi:</div><div class="quote_post">It's not about having the best players but about playing the best team basketball. Back in the world championship the USA had the best players, but didn't succeed because they didn't play a team game. They didn't execute smoothly the pick and roll and didn't manage to defend it against team like argentina.</div> That was more than just not playing like a team. The United States team took it as a joke, minus a few players. They were treating it like an All-Star game. If they had the year-long mental preparations as well as the extra practice time, they would have smashed the competition. I agree that not playing team basketball was a factor, but not one of the largest. I mean, they had two of the best team players in the NBA: Duncan and Kidd.
Would you even allow Kobe Bryant on a team representing the United States pending a rape charge? I am by no means a Kobe Bryant hater because the guy has phenomenal basketball skills and has shown us before all this mess that he is a classy individual, but I was glad to see that the judge in Colorado denied his lawyers request to have this case around a time when the Olympics would take place. Finally someone stood up and didn't care (celebrity or not) who was on trial; this trial will take place when it takes place.
