Giving Up Party Lifestyle for Kobe Bryant-Inspired Tactics, 41YO NBA Veteran Recalls Iconic Victory After ?04 Humiliation

The late Kobe Bryant is an NBA royalty, whose life has positively impacted hundreds of thousands of people. His devotion to the game of basketball combined with his ?perfectionist-like? work ethic made him one of the most ?lethal? NBA athletes of all time. In recent times, an NBA veteran recalls an iconic victory from the ‘Redeem Team’ and the vital role that Black Mamba played in it.

It was a bittersweet moment of reflection for the NBA pro as he remembered the embarrassment of the 2004 Olympics too. From that experience, along with Kobe Bryant, they formed the ‘Redeem Team’.

41YO NBA Veteran Recalls Iconic Victory

Carlos Boozer is a two-time NBA All-Star who played in the league from 2002 to 2015. During his time in the league, he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz, Chicago Bulls, and Los Angeles Lakers. He is also a two-time Olympic medalist. He won the bronze medal with the 2004 USA Olympics team and the gold medal with the iconic 2008 ‘Redeem Team’.

The 41-year-old NBA veteran recalls his iconic victory in his book ?Every Shot Counts: A Memoir of Resilience?. He compares the two Olympic teams he was a part of. He says in his book, ?It was just the complete opposite. In ?04, it was like they threw us together last minute to go beat the world.?.

He further explains, ?There was the tale of two groups on that team. You had the older group, which was like Stephon Marbury, Allen Iverson, Tim Duncan, Shawn Marion?the Matrix?Richard Jefferson (and) Lamar Odom. And you had the young gunners, which was myself, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Amar’e Stoudemire and LeBron James. ? It was like this high school separation, because they were getting all the playing time.?.

Following the shocking upset in 2004, Team U.S.A. led by their new head coach, Mike Krzyzewski, made the NBA legend Kobe Bryant the 2008 U.S. Olympics team captain.

The Kobe Bryant impact on the ‘Redeem Team’

Carlos Boozer mentions in his book, ?When Coach said we were bringing in Kobe, I was like, ?This is going to be amazing.? I already knew his work ethic and his reputation. The guy?s a winner, which is what we needed at the time.?.

After losing to Argentina in 2004 and the impressive 2008 Spain team playing well, Kobe Bryant?s entry into the 2008 U.S.A Olympics team changed everything. Boozer mentions in Netflix?s ‘The Redeem Team’?documentary, ?We get in there and Kobe sets the tone in practice the first day?doesn?t take one shot and is hustling, winning every sprint…He?s showing that we?re going to win this championship with our defense, not with our offense. That kind of set the tone.?.

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He further praises the late NBA legend as he recalls bumping into Late Kobe Bryant after a night out in Las Vegas, ?We?re walking in there at 4-5 in the morning and we see Kobe going to the weight room. We?re like, ?Kobe, what the (expletive) are you doing?? There?s only 12 Olympians, so 11 of us went out and one of us didn?t. As Kobe was walking with his gym bag and workout gear to the weight room?and we?re walking in from a night out on the town?he goes, ?I got goals? and just kept walking.?.

He inspired the Team U.S.A. to a level where the team players almost immediately started working out in the mornings and practicing throughout the day (during camp).

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What are your thoughts on the?U.S.A.?s ‘Redeem Team’?and the late Kobe Bryant?s impact on their victory in 2008? Let us know in the comments below!