Mike Krzyzewski Comments on Kobe Bryant's Interest in Playing for Team USA

The United States Olympic basketball team is getting set for the 2016 Summer Games beginning on August 5 in Rio de Janeiro. But on Tuesday, head coach Mike Krzyzewski was talking about a player who isn't on the roster, former Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant. 

ESPN.com's Arash Markazi provided his comments:

Bryant retired in April after a 20-year NBA career and five titles to go with two gold medals that he won with Coach Krzyzewski and Team USA in 2008 and 2012. 

He averaged 13.6 points in 16 games at the Olympics, including a 20-point performance in the gold-medal game against Spain in Beijing in 2008.

After originally telling Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press in November 2015 that he wanted to play in the Olympics this summer, Bryant told Jody Genessy of the Deseret News in January that he wouldn't go after a spot on the team.

So basketball fans hoping to see Bryant on the court one last time must be content with his final performance, which was a memorable 60-point, 50-shot game against the Utah Jazz:    

Krzyzewski believes there's no way to top that, even in pursuit of a third gold medal, per Markazi:

At 37, Bryant would have been by far the oldest player on the United States' roster, as Carmelo Anthony holds the title of eldest statesman at 32 years old. Eight players are 26 or younger, forming a new, youthful team that will take the court in Rio in a few weeks. 

So Bryant, like the majority of United States fans, will have to watch Team USA at home and can continue to enjoy his retirement to the fullest.      

Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com.