Kobe Bryant will not be making a run at the Olympic team in 2016.
We know that this is the last NBA season in which we will see Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, as he’s already announced his upcoming retirement. However, some were still holding out hope that we would still see a little more basketball from Bryant after the NBA season ends as part of the Olympic team one last time.
Well, that hope is gone.
Before Bryant and the Lakers take on the Utah Jazz Saturday night, Bryant noted that he will indeed not be pursuing a spot on the team as some had hoped he would.
Kobe Bryant will not pursue a spot on the 2016 Olympics team. "I think it's the young guys' turn to go. ... I've had my moment."
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) January 16, 2016
Furthermore, he also commented on wanting to play his last basketball team with a Lakers uniform on.
Kobe Bryant: "I think it will be pretty sweet to play my last game in a Lakers uniform."
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) January 17, 2016
Really, this shouldn’t be all that much of a shock, yet people were still kind of hoping that he pursued a spot anyway. Given the success that he has had in the past on the Olympic squads, it’s understandable to want to see him have that one last swan song representing the country.
Instead, he’s just going to finish the basketball career all up with this NBA farewell tour.
The 2016 Summer Olympic Games will take place in Rio this coming summer.