Mitch about Laker's players playing for team USA

[The Skyhook]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-lak ... 9163.story

"Our players that we're talking about have been injured this year, and typically the summer is a time after a long, grueling season that they could use to rehabilitate, to rest, and to get well," Kupchak said. "We've played well over 110, 115, 120 games in the last two years. It's grueling. Injuries that take place in November, December and January, they don't heal. The only time they're going to heal, barring surgery, is during the off-season."

I hope Mitch talks to them about taking the summer off. Its been 3 long seasons and an entire summer without basketball would be refreshing to Kobe.

[laduane1]

Yes, Kobe needs all summer off and even training camp would be nice. He does not need to go over seas to play in some useless games over there.

[Asianiac_24]

Team USA probably don't even need Kobe. They have a good enough team to win without Kobe

[lakersdynasty]

kobe should have a surgery schedule for the first week after the season end, he has a 30million per year contract, get ready for the ones that pay your salary lol who cares about the basketball world cup....

[Pablo Escobar]

Kobe get the surgery and rest for the offseason please

[chefy]

I doubt kobe would back out after already committing with team USA

he'll probably will just minimize or even skip the practices, workouts, and traveling team USA usually do before the actual games in the Olympics.

[doozyj]

Team USA probably don't even need Kobe. They have a good enough team to win without Kobe

LOL. Remember what happened last time we didn't need Kobe with a Team led by LeBronze and Wade. We need Kobe on team USA. This is important for us as a fan of our country to get the Gold. Plus Kobe probably loves playing international ball and doubt he wants to miss it.

[Minhee]

Wait, I know Gasol played for Spain the the European tourney last summer but didn't Kobe have the summer off? There were no Team USA activities after we won the title in 2009. I know after losing to Boston Kobe went out and won the gold and the year before in 2007 he played in the qualifying tourney. Last summer he got to rest, he just never opted for surgery. Gasol definitely need this summer off, Kobe should get surgery. The rest of our players do not represent their respective country so really we have no excuse for next year.

[chefy]

Team USA probably don't even need Kobe. They have a good enough team to win without Kobe

LOL. Remember what happened last time we didn't need Kobe with a Team led by LeBronze and Wade. We need Kobe on team USA. This is important for us as a fan of our country to get the Gold. Plus Kobe probably loves playing international ball and doubt he wants to miss it.

yeap kobe seemed to had so much fun playing for team USA last olympics

james, wade, howard, USA's and the world's most elite athletes would be there. that would be like kings and queens party and kobe is a king...no way kobe's not going to attend.

plus factor in kobe's pride, backing out means admitting hes indeed old. hes not going let the young guns get all the fun and attraction.

[Minhee]

Team USA probably don't even need Kobe. They have a good enough team to win without Kobe

LOL. Remember what happened last time we didn't need Kobe with a Team led by LeBronze and Wade. We need Kobe on team USA. This is important for us as a fan of our country to get the Gold. Plus Kobe probably loves playing international ball and doubt he wants to miss it.

That was when Wade and Lebron were much younger under Larry Brown. In 2008 Wade did pretty damn well, he may have been Team USA's best player offensively for the entire tourney. Wade is more than capable of leading our Country to another Gold Medal, besides Kobe will be 34 by 2012. Something is wrong if a team of Deron, CP3, Lebron, Wade, Melo, Bosh, D12, Boozer, Amare, along with the additon of Durant, Westbrook, Steph Curry and Tyreke Evans cannot bring home the Gold.

[magic1fan]

dr buss should privately ask kobe and pau to take the summer off. we are going to need them more than ever next year for our three peat.

[JimMurray]

I'll be really upset if Kobe doesn't use the off-season to heal his body, get the required surgeries, and have himself back to his old-self by next year.

[Mamba Venom]

Spain needs to stop before they make Gasol into Yao Ming