Kobe Bryant Says He Won’t Play in FIBA Basketball World Cup

Given his advanced age and current injury situation, it’s not entirely surprising that Kobe Bryant is done with international competition. Bean says he won’t take part in the Fiba World Cup next summer in Madrid, Spain. Per the Business Mirror: “I love competing but I will let the young guys play and represent the country,’ said Bryant, who donned the Team USA jersey in the Fiba Americas Championship in 2007, on Monday during an event promoting the latest Lenovo mobile phones at the Passion Restaurant at the Resorts World Manila in Pasay City. Bryant arrived from Beijing early Monday morning despite the bad weather wrought by Typhoon Labuyo. ‘I had my fun playing, just leave the NBA championships to me,’ added the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player and two-time Olympic gold medalist as he tries to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to another NBA title in the coming season. Bryant never had the chance to play in the Fiba Worlds because he was either injured or had a prior commitment.”