The Los Angeles Lakers are obviously the first team that comes to mind when discussing NBA great Kobe Bryant, but they weren’t the only team featuring the Black Mamba. In both 2008 and 2012, Bryant traded in the Purple and Gold of the Lakers for the Red, White, and Blue of Team USA at the Olympics. Kobe was a major factor in both 2008 and 2012 in helping Team USA avenge their embarrassing bronze finish in 2004.
Kobe played at an elite level at the 2008 Beijing Games following his lone MVP-winning season. However, he got off to a rough start at the 2012 Olympics in London, scoring just 14 points combined in the first two games.