Bryant insists glory for US tops anything achieved in storied career with Lakers
LA Lakers star Kobe Bryant wore his heart on his sleeve yesterday when he confessed that winning a gold medal for his country would mean more to him than any NBA title.
The 29-year-old reigning NBA MVP already has three championship rings but says gold from Beijing would surpass anything he has achieved in the game. 'A gold medal is different because you're playing for your country. There is more at stake I think,' said Bryant.
'When you're playing for an NBA championship you're obviously playing for a brand, you're playing for whatever motivates you, to prove people wrong or whatever it is.
'You put on the USA uniform and you're playing for something that's bigger than all of that. You're representing your country.
'It's one country up against the other one to prove who's best at this game. To me that holds more weight.'
Bryant has come to Macau off a stellar NBA season. He led the Lakers to the finals and picked up his first league MVP title after averaging 28.3 points per game.