Kobe Bryant: National Pride

Kobe Bryant talks to the LA Times about Team USA (excerpts):

Q: Did you watch the Athens Games in 2004?

A: I didn’t watch all of them, but I watched a couple of them.

Q: What was going through your mind when you saw the USA walk away with only bronze?

A: I saw it coming, to be honest with you. Teams internationally have just been getting better. Since ‘92 and ‘96, after that, teams have been getting better. They’ve had a chance to play against us and see what we do and how we train and how we work. They go home and work on that stuff and come back and they’re better ballplayers. So now you have an even playing field where those players over there aren’t looking at us and being intimidated by us. They feel like they can compete with us and should beat us.

Q: After watching what happened in Athens, did it motivate you to play this year?

A: Absolutely. Absolutely. You’re dealing with national pride. You never want to see the United States lose at anything. Water polo, soccer, whatever it is. You don’t want the United States to lose ever. And in this case, even more so, because it’s basketball and it’s what I do.

Q: What does it mean for you to actually play in these Olympics?

A: It’s beyond words because whether it’s playing for the Lakers or Carmelo [Anthony] playing for the Denver Nuggets, you’re representing your market. When you put on the USA uniform, you’re representing the country and it’s more special. It’s something I take a great deal of pride in.

Q: Who brings the most fun to this team?

A: All the guys are pretty funny. We’ve got a pretty funny squad. From LeBron to [Dwyane Wade] to [Carmelo Anthony] to myself to Jason [Kidd]. We’ve got a group of personalities that are pretty entertaining.

Read the full LA Times Q&A

Video Flashback: Team USA 1992 Top 10 Plays

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9oXs9×3Vdg