Kobe Bryant: The Redeemer of Team USA…
Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant was celebrated yet again as the 2008 Olympic Men’s Basketball team, dubbed the “Redeem Team,” was enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. The 2004 Athens Olympics were about as successful for Team USA as trying to slam dunk in quicksand, finishing third. But like a superhero without a cape (because let’s be real, a cape would be a tripping hazard on the court), Kobe stepped in to save the day. Coming straight from an MVP season and LeBron-like headlines, Bryant led a roster that featured some of the NBA’s biggest names to gold in Beijing.
Michael Redd couldn’t help but shout out to Bryant for being the secret sauce—like the extra cheese on a pizza—that got the Redeem Team to the Hall of Fame. Kobe led the team, clutching against Spain and guarding the best perimeter players while casually managing Team USA’s offense. Even LeBron James, who was close to being the world’s best player, admitted Kobe was indeed the missing link. Redd mostly watched from the bench, but he got a front-row seat to Kobe’s unflinching leadership and beginning of his gold medal collection—because why not start somewhere shiny and golden! Meanwhile, young NBA sensation Victor Wembanyama, when listing his favorite players, picked Kobe over Tim Duncan and realized it was like choosing pineapple over pepperoni on a San Antonio pizza.
