If Kobe Bryant want to play on the Olympic team, then he's going to play on the Olympic team.
Speaking at an appearance in Manchester, England, on Tuesday, he called NBA commissioner David Stern's 23-year-old age limit proposal "stupid." From ESPN.com:
"It's a stupid idea," Bryant told local reporters at the reception to welcome them to Manchester in advance of Thursday night's exhibition game here against Team Great Britain. "It should be a (player's) choice."
Asked how much he and his Team USA teammates have talked about Stern's proposal since getting together in Vegas on July 5, Bryant said: "Our discussion is this: Basically, it's just a dumb idea and we (discuss) it that way. ... We just discuss it like that (and) kind of voice our opinions through you (media) guys."
Men's Olympic soccer uses a 23-year-old age limit. At the NBA Finals, Stern expressed a desire to take another look at the NBA's role in sending players to play internationally. Some owners, including Mavs owner Mark Cuban, have raised concerns over injuries. Given the knee injury to Blake Griffin a few weeks ago, those concerns have legitimacy.
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