The 2012 Team USA has a separate place in the hearts of many fans. The team led by a young ascending LeBron James who had just won his first NBA championship, comprised of big names who are now considered legends or to be legends of the game like Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Love.
Kobe Bryant that time was having a rough NBA season as he was knocked out at the semi-finals of the playoffs by Kevin Durant and Westbrook who led the Oklahoma City Thunder. An old video from that time of has surfaced on the internet recently and is making rounds on the internet.
Westbrook’s fearless encounter with Kobe at Team USA practice
In the video Team USA can be seen having a practice session during which Kobe and Westbrook were on opposite teams. It looked like the scars of the elimination at the semi-finals had not healed yet as the black mamba took on Mr. Triple Double. Lebron called out an isolation play and egged Kobe to lockdown Russell to the sidelines to limit his options.
The only choices Westbrook would have here would be to shoot from a tight angle or to collide with another player. Mr. Triple Double in his obvious fashion stepped back after a dribble and knocked down an easy 3. After this play, he stared down at Kobe and said with a smile, “ You can’t do nothing about that one.” Kobe instantly replied with his usual aggression, “ Come here and get it!”
LEAKED Audio Of Russell Westbrook Trash Talking Kobe Bryant In Team USA Practice👀:
Westbrook: “You can’t do nothing about that one”
Kobe: “Come here and get it”, while also staring him down pic.twitter.com/9QrLAteoWt
— LegendZ (@legendz_nba) September 2, 2023
This incident reminded us of one of the many reasons why the 2012 Team USA was one of the greatest, it not only featured the biggest stars but also extreme competitors which made the games and practices both worth watching.
Did Team USA win gold in 2012?
The 2012 team was assembled to take part in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. It would be a shame to not expect a team of this caliber with its lineup to not win the gold and the team fulfilled these expectations. Team USA of 2012 won the gold medal in the London Olympics after besting Spain in a neck-to-neck match.
The final score of the match was 107-100 and players like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant earned themselves a place in the All-tournament team. The medal they won at the 2012 Olympics was their third consecutive one and cemented the team as one of the best international teams in the world.
What do you think of this confrontation between Kobe and Westbrook? Do you think the current Team USA would be able to achieve the same feats the 2012 one did? We are eager to know, so drop down in the comments and share your take.
