Coach K placed all his hopes on this Laker player for the Olympics U.S. team

The road to the 2008 Olympic games for the U.S. Basketball team wasn't easy; a lot of pressure from the media and fans hoping to win the tournament, but after the previous Olympics disaster of not winning, fear of not overcoming it permeated.

But Coach Mike Krzyzewski knew what he had to do and asked the Lakers star Kobe Bryant for help. Coach K had a lot of concerns with the team, so he recruited the black mamba.

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Coach K has said on different occasions how fundamental Bryant was for the team, but one of the main stories is that Coach K and his staff arrived two days early before the players, and suddenly there was a knock on the door; it was Kobe Bryant.

Kobe asked Coach K if he could speak to him for a moment, and then Bryant said that he had a favor to ask; Kobe wanted to focus on defense, wanting to be matched with the opposing team's best player, and promised Coach K that he would destroy them. That Kobe leadership is what Coach K wanted for the Lakers star, and it all worked out.

Kobe Bryant the mastermind behind the gold in 2008

The Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant was always about his mentality and worked to be the best player, and that mindset he was able to translate to the rest of the team, including other greats; at that moment, young players like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and much more. Without a doubt, Kobe's being the captain and his leadership made it possible for the U.S. basketball team to return home with the gold medal.