What if Kobe was on Team USA's 2004 team?

[SOD 21]

While it is true that a prime Kobe Bryant could certainly help that 2004 Olympic team, are we sure that was actually a prime Kobe Bryant?

He may have been 25 years old that year, but he was far from his best due to a combination of the stress of his sexual assault case and he also had knee surgery in the summer of 2003 that seemed to have hindered his effectiveness. He also seemed hellbent to show people that he could over come the weight of the trial and it hurt his overall effectiveness as well. He shot the worst percentage of his career in the playoffs as a starter that year and just wasn't as good as he was even two or three years before that or what he was in subsequent years.

He would be too much of a distraction and not playing quite at his elite self to make a positive difference. So I will say, no.

[stalkerforlife]

Kobe would NEVER lose an international game. He's too great and too competitive.

[scm5]

Definitely.

It's not like the team was lacking in talent. If they were losing, Kobe would have turned it on and brought them back, I have no doubt. He would definitely be one of the leaders, if not the leader of the team and his effort would have inspired greater effort from others on the team.

[kennethgriffin]

While it is true that a prime Kobe Bryant could certainly help that 2004 Olympic team, are we sure that was actually a prime Kobe Bryant?

He may have been 25 years old that year, but he was far from his best due to a combination of the stress of his sexual assault case and he also had knee surgery in the summer of 2003 that seemed to have hindered his effectiveness. He also seemed hellbent to show people that he could over come the weight of the trial and it hurt his overall effectiveness as well. He shot the worst percentage of his career in the playoffs as a starter that year and just wasn't as good as he was even two or three years before that or what he was in subsequent years.

He would be too much of a distraction and not playing quite at his elite self to make a positive difference. So I will say, no.

2001
2002
2003

kobe was near prime

2006
2007
2008
2009

kobe was prime


2004
2005

= people suddenly think kobe wasnt great cause he had to share with malone and payton. then a year later was in a rebuilding process and injured

but when he was on the court. he was still deadly. and just as competitive

he just ran into a fued with shaq/self destructing team/all time great defensive piston team. and a break up of the lakers


put that guy on the 2004 olympic team and he gets it done. lakers were just a sh*t situation at the time.

in the 2004 finals it was 2 on 12

in the 2005 season it was 2 on 12

on the 2004 USA team its 12 on 12

[SamuraiSWISH]

well even though he was weak physically that year ... he still would've instantly been their second best player. he'd be the best shooter on the perimeter. lock down defender. he would have brought an intimidation factor as well as competitive spirit for that team they were sorely lacking ... plus with his emphasis on defense they might've been able to win gold. even with all the rookies, second rate stars, and selfish chuckers ... he could've helped alleviate a underwhelming performing Duncan. and he definitely would've been able to defend Ginobili.

[FKAri]

So your two main pieces are Iverson and Kobe?

[TheMilkyBarKid]

2001
2002
2003

kobe was near prime

2006
2007
2008
2009

kobe was prime


2004
2005

= people suddenly think kobe wasnt great cause he had to share with malone and payton. then a year later was in a rebuilding process and injured

but when he was on the court. he was still deadly. and just as competitive

he just ran into a fued with shaq/self destructing team/all time great defensive piston team. and a break up of the lakers


put that guy on the 2004 olympic team and he gets it done. lakers were just a sh*t situation at the time.

in the 2004 finals it was 2 on 12

in the 2005 season it was 2 on 12

on the 2004 USA team its 12 on 12

So in the 2007 finals lebron was playing 1 vs 5? How about the 2014 finals?

[Shih508]

2004 olympic was so bad only because only 2 of original 12 players that was chosen made the trip the Athen. Other than Timmy and AI, all others *****'d out due to threat of terrorism. And kobe was one of them, although he prolly had most legitimate excuse, still a ***** move nonetheless.

If 2004 was held in Beijing, I bet all 12 would go without hesitation. So whoever trying to make AI and Timmy looked bad cuz they only won a "Bronze" better get the fact checked.