At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Kobe Bryant was one of the key players in Team USA’s triumph.

Mike Krzyzewski, also known as “Coach K”, recently told an incredible anecdote about the Black Mamba in this tournament.

In 2004, Team USA finished 3rd in the Athens Olympics, and this simple bronze medal was synonymous with an affront for the Americans.

As such, the greatest NBA superstars were called upon to represent the colors of Uncle Sam’s country for the following edition in Beijing.

After the Dream Team, the “Redeem Team” was born. Obviously, Kobe Bryant was one of the major figures in this squad.

Having just won his MVP trophy in 2008, the Lakers legend had the mission, with his teammates, to put the United States back on the international stage, something they did well.

The Black Mamba was a born winner and he was ready to do anything to stay that way. And in a recent episode of The Rich Eisen Show, Mike Krzyzewski confirmed it again.

Kobe Bryant’s request to Coach K at the 2008 Olympics
He was the player who prepared the best that I have ever seen, that I have coached and that I have ever heard about in my life.

Two days before we went to training camp in Las Vegas, I was with my staff, there was a knock on my door, and it was Kobe who had come early.

He told me that he wanted to talk to me. I thought he was going to tell me that he didn’t want to come to Beijing anymore. My heart was about to explode.

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We went into my office, he asked me to do him a favor.

I felt relieved, I understood that he was staying with us (laughs). I told him that I could grant him that willingly.

He told me that he wanted to defend the best perimeter player of each team that we were going to play.

Then, he leaned towards me with his penetrating gaze and he said to me: “Coach, I promise you that I will destroy them all.”

Team USA had managed to win gold by beating Spain in a legendary final. In the semi-final, Coach K’s men faced their executioners from the previous edition and reigning champions at the time, Argentina.

This time, the Americans had not fallen into the trap and had won.

And as the former coach also pointed out, Kobe Bryant was like at war in this duel.

In every training session, he wanted to be the best defensive player.

That was his way of operating. In his head, he knew what he had to do to win the gold medal. The two best teams besides us were Spain and Argentina.

Against Argentina, he absolutely wanted to defend Manu Ginobili. We beat them by 20 points, then Ginobili got injured and they came back down to 10 points, all because Kobe needed that motivation.

The Mamba Mentality is one of the most famous characteristics of Kobe Bryant.

The Hall of Famer was one of the greatest competitors there is.

So much so that he asked Mike Krzyzewski to defend the best forward from each nation at the 2008 Olympics.