Kobe Bryant holds a Team USA record that LeBron James will never be able to top

Kobe Bryant holds a Team USA record that LeBron James will never be able to top

August 8, 2024

No matter what LeBron James does in the 2024 Olympics, The King is not catching Kobe Bryant.

Bryant, a Los Angeles Lakers legend, was the perfect answer on the hardwood for Team USA at the perfect time.

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Kobe Bryant turned around Team USA and brought back gold glory

After a hugely disappointing bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics, Bryant was at the core of 2008’s Redeem Team.

But for all of his impressive accomplishments that year, one stat stands out the most.

Bryant was a perfect 36-0 while playing for Team USA, which includes Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 12.

“If Kobe wasn’t on the team, USA would still lose in 2008,” one fan tweeted.

“Kobe was the man!” a second fan posted.

James entered Thursday aiming for his fourth Olympic medal and third gold as Team USA took on Nikola Jokic and Serbia in a NBA-fueled semifinal game in the 2024 Olympics.

Bryant averaged 13.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 37 percent on 3-pointers in 16 Olympic games.

He went undefeated during his two Summer Games years, then went 20-0 during other tournaments with Team USA.

Kevin Durant is the all-time leading scorer in Team USA history, recently surpassing Lisa Leslie.

But Bryant was the center piece of a 2008 squad that avenged the bronze from ’04 by bringing Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh and The King together.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski utilized Bryant’s intensity and dedication to get the best of the USA squad in 2008.

Bryant embraced the win-or-fail pressure that comes with Team USA and never lost while wearing red, white and blue.

Bryant helped build his legacy in the Olympics and was relentless

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Bryant helped build his legacy in the Olympics and was relentless
Former Lakers teammate Pau Gasol learned just how intense Bryant was

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Former Lakers teammate Pau Gasol learned just how intense Bryant was

“We (were) kind of surprised that he even wanted to be a part of Team USA after everything that went on (in 2004),” James said.

Anthony revealed that Bryant was a different player with Team USA, uniting with his normal NBA opponents to return the US to the peak of the basketball world.

” ‘Kobe you’re here to play with us, we’re here to play with you,’ ” Anthony told Bryant. ” ‘We don’t need Laker Kobe, we need Team USA Kobe. He was like, ‘I get it, I understand it. I’m tired of watching y’all lose.’ “

NBA legend Michael Jordan struggles as he’s forced to pick between Kobe Byrant and LeBron James

Bryant never lost with Team USA and holds an undefeated record that James can never top, since he was part of the 2004 team that finished with a bronze medal.

Michael Jordan went 30-0 in international play, while Jason Kidd was a perfect 46-0.

Bryant was so intense in Olympic play that he almost forgot Pau Gasol was his Lakers teammate.

Ahead of a 2008 Olympic game vs Spain, Bryant told reporters that he and Gasol were like brothers.

Then the Black Mamba snapped at Gasol.

“Kobe said he was gonna set the tone to start the game and he said, ‘I’m running through Pau’s chest’,” James revealed in Netflix’s Redeem Team documentary.

LeBron James was able to learn from Bryant in the Olympics

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LeBron James was able to learn from Bryant in the Olympics

“First play of the game, I’m running through Pau Gasol.” And we was like, ‘What?’ ” Wade said.

“He said, ‘First play of the game, I know what they’re gonna run.’ And he knew Pau was gonna be the last screen and he said, ‘I’m running through him.’ “

Gasol attempted to set a screen on Bryant, who ran straight through him at full force and knocked him over to the ground.

As Bryant hovered over his Lakers teammate, a bewildered Gasol looked around and tried to figure out what had just happened.

That’s why Bryant went 36-0 in international play with Team USA.

Entering Paris, James had displayed his own intensity but couldn’t match Bryant’s perfect record.

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