Career: Los Angeles Lakers (USA-NBA, 1996-2008)

Turning 30 years old on August 23, the player many consider the best in the game will play a second straight summer with the USA after playing a vital role with on the 2007 USA team. An unstoppable scorer and relentless defender, Kobe Bryant was voted the 2007-08 NBA Most Valuable Player as he completed his 12th NBA season, all with the L.A. Lakers, averaging 28.3 points an outing. Bryant led the Lakers to a Western Conference best 57-25 regular season record, the Pacific Division title and the 2008 NBA Finals. Above all else, Kobe is an offensive machine. He once scored 81 points during a regular season game against Toronto (22/01/06), and he assembled in February 2003 one of the greatest individual scoring streaks in NBA history-scoring 40 or more points in nine straight games. Only Wilt Chamberlain had a longer run with 14-straight games twice during the 1961-62 season. Bryant finally got his first taste of international ball in 2007 and he started in all 10 of the USA’s FIBA Americas Championship games. Posting spectacular all-around numbers of 15.3 ppg., 2.0 rpg., 2.9 apg., a team leading 1.6 spg., all while averaging 19.9 minutes a game, and shooting 54.8 percent from the field overall, 45.9 percent (17-37 3pt FGs) from 3-point, and 87.2 percent (34-39 FTs) from the foul line, he helped lead the USA to a gold medal and perfect 10-0 tally at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship.