Kobe Bryant no longer planning to try for spot on Olympics team

Kobe Bryant has chose to drop out of consideration for a spot on this summer’s U.S. Olympic basketball team.

Bryant made the announcement in Salt Lake City before the Lakers’ game against the Utah Jazz.

During a break in the action while playing against the Golden State Warriors this week, Bryant said guard Leandro Barbosa asked him about making the trip to Brazil. In fact, USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo specifically said that Bryant wanted to earn a spot on the team.

Veterans Lou Williams (who ranks second on the team in scoring at 15.3 points per game) and Roy Hibbert are usually in Los Angeles’ starting lineup, but second-year players Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle, along with rookies D’Angelo Russell and Larry Nance Jr., represent the team’s future.

“I just turned around and went, ‘Nooooo, ‘” Bryant said.

MIAMI (AP) – Kobe Bryant is passing the Olympic torch.

This is a definite change of heart for Kobe, but it does go to show how much he values the Lakers organization.

For Bryant, two Olympic gold medals is enough. But considering Bryant will not be one of them, and that works perfectly for all sides.

“[He] comes up to me and goes, ‘See you in Rio, ‘” Bryant recalled. “If they want me to come down and speak to the guys, I will. That’s about it. I think as lovely as it would be to play for our country, when I say my last game is going to be my last game, I’m going to retire, then that’s it”.