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Basketball: USA Team Training July 11, 2012 Las Vegas, NV, USA Team USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski left speaks with guard Kobe Bryant during practice at the UNLV Mendenhall Center. Las Vegas Mendenhall Center Nevada USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xGaryxA.xVasquez-USAxTODAYxSportsx 6374014
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Basketball: USA Team Training July 11, 2012 Las Vegas, NV, USA Team USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski left speaks with guard Kobe Bryant during practice at the UNLV Mendenhall Center. Las Vegas Mendenhall Center Nevada USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xGaryxA.xVasquez-USAxTODAYxSportsx 6374014
Almost four years after his tragic death in a copter crash, Kobe Bryant is still being recalled for his larger than life personality. The Black Mamba is especially being paid homage for his “killer mentality” that helped him achieve greatness. One such stark memory was lately shared by Mike Krzyzewski aka Coach K making many nostalgic about the fallen NBA legend.
Bryant was a remarkable player known for his outstanding skills on both ends of the court. He was determined to prove his skeptics wrong, which led to several remarkable incidents throughout his career. One such incident lately surfaced when a four-decade veteran of American basketball recalls working with Kobe.
“Guy owns it”: Coach K recalls Kobe’s Olympics moment
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Coach K lately gave a glimpse of a pep talk during the US Basketball Team’s Olympics outing. He encouraged the team to put aside their celebrity status for a moment and imagine themselves as sixteen-year-olds as they laid out their Olympic uniforms in front of them. The most surprising thing was Kobe’s reaction to this. Coack K summarised it as, “Kobe comes up and taps me on the shoulder and I said, ‘what’s up?’ Kobe replied, ‘I did what you asked me to do… And I cried…’ “
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BASKETBALL: USA Team Training July 23, 2012 Barcelona, SPAIN USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski left talks with guard Kobe Bryant right during practice in preparation for the 2012 London Olympic Games, Olympische Spiele, Olympia, OS at Palau Sant Jordi. Barcelona Spain UNITED STATES, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xBobxDonnan-USAxTODAYxSportsx 6396546
While describing the incident Coach K said that he got chills about how dedicated Kobe Bryant could be: “I said this guy owns it.”
Read More: Top 5 NCAA Athletes Who Found Success Under Coach K
Coach K recalled that Kobe owned the game with his killer mentality.
Bryant and the Olympics
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Kobe Bryant along with LeBron James led the USA’s “Redeem Team” to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Their mission was to exorcise the demons of Athens in 2004, where the USA was eliminated in the semi-finals by Argentina.
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USA’s Kobe Bryant (L) looks at USA’s LeBron James during the men’s semi-final basketball match Argentina against The US of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 22, 2008 at the Olympic basketball Arena in Beijing. AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTE (Photo credit should read FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images)
After that, Kobe focused on supporting Team USA in London 2012 as they aimed to defend their Olympic gold medal.
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Watch This Story: “Built That Into a Monster”: Fans Join Lakers Legend Magic Johnson Applauding WNBA Legend-Turned-Coach for Securing March Madness Ticket
Bryant announced that London would be his final Olympic appearance, saying, “It’s a great honor for me because I have always wanted to play for Team USA.” Barely eight after this statement, Kobe lost his life in a tragic accident and made everyone nostalgic about his Mamba Mentality.
