There’s no denying Kobe Bryant was an exceptional man who elevated the game of basketball during his time playing in the NBA. But according to Carmelo Anthony, the Los Angeles Lakers star was the piece that completed Team USA’s Redeem Team in 2008.
Before the 2008 Olympics, Team USA finished with a bronze medal while Argentina and Italy went home with the gold and silver, respectively. Included in this squad are some of the league’s best players during that time, such as LeBron James, Allen Iverson, Tim Duncan, and Dwyane Wade, among others. Ultimately, the absence of other notable stars in the NBA and the inclusion of a younger and more inexperienced players led the United States to finish poorly.
Team USA’s horrendous finish at the Olympics that year led the United States to assemble a more formidable squad for the following event in Beijing. The final roster included Dwight Howard, James, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, and Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.
With Mike Krzyewski coaching, Team USA, or more commonly known as the Redeem Team, demolished other participants in the tournament. The job was finally done when they won over European powerhouse Spain with a score of 118-107.
Carmelo Anthony Says Kobe Bryant Completed Team USA’s 2008 Redeem Team
In an episode of 7PM in Brooklyn, Anthony details how the addition of Bryant ensured the success of Team USA in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Melo reveals why Kobe made The Redeem Team complete pic.twitter.com/jQ6SQLzSZg
— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) March 16, 2024
The former New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets star said that their team could have won the gold medal but getting the late Los Angeles Lakers legend made things easier. Without Bryant, things would have been tougher for them, Anthony added.
Without a doubt, Bryant was the missing piece that ensured the Redeem Team’s success more than a decade ago. This testimony from Anthony only proves the greatness of the Black Mamba back when he still lived.
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