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The men's basketball team that will represent the U.S. at next month's Olympics could have been stronger, but it's still a formidable group that will be heavily favored to win gold. It's apparently also a group that could possibly have included Kobe Bryant, but the former Lakers great chose to stay retired.

On Tuesday, ESPN's Arash Markazi passed along comments from Team USA's head coach, Mike Krzyzewski. Here's what Coach K, whose relationship with Bryant goes back to an attempt to recruit the then-high school star to Duke, had to say:

"When we were going through the pool, we did check to make sure he had retired, and he said to ⅛USA Basketball chairman⅜ Jerry ⅛Colangelo⅜ he had. He's still part of our program. When you have a guy who is a two-time gold medal winner and one of the great players of all time, you would always extend the courtesy - 'Are you sure you want to be here,' or whatever.

"He said, 'Thank you, but no.' Once you stop playing, it's tough. This is a really high level. It's not worth the grind. He could not be more supportive."

Krzyzewski then reminisced about Bryant's performance in the 2008 gold-medal game, when he helped the U.S. pull away from a dogged Spain team. With the contest much closer than the star-studded Americans would have liked in the late going, the Lakers guard stepped to the forefront, hitting a number of shots and making other plays to ensure his side came out on top.

"This whole thing wouldn't have started the way it did without him," said Krzyzewski, who began coaching Team USA in 2005. "With just under nine minutes to go in Beijing against Spain, it's a two-point game and we're in a timeout, and he took over, and so did Dwyane Wade. That's why I'm still coaching. Believe me, I recognize those moments."

That could also be why Bryant may well have been given a more or less honorary spot on Team USA, had he indicated an interest. Even without LeBron James, Steph Curry and James Harden participating this summer, the U.S. will boast the likes of Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Carmelo Anthony, Paul George and DeMarcus Cousins, meaning that it could almost certainly afford to roster Bryant, who appeared well past his prime in his final season in Los Angeles, and still take home gold.

In January, Bryant told reporters that he would not seek a place on the Olympic team. "I think as beautiful as it would be to play for our country, when I say my last game is going to be my last game, I'm going to retire, then that's it," Bryant said. "I've been fortunate enough to win two gold medals, so I've had my moment. I think it's important for them to go ahead and play. I'll watch from afar, support from afar."

Apparently Colangelo and Krzyzewski wanted one last confirmation of Bryant's non-involvement, possibly after watching from afar as the 18-time all-star submitted a remarkable performance in that "last game." Bryant dropped 60 points - on 22-of-50 shooting - on the Jazz, leading Los Angeles back from a sizable fourth-quarter deficit before a delirious Staples Center crowd.

So what if Bryant had picked up his phone and called Krzyzewski right after that contest, asking for a spot on Team USA?

"The very first thing I would say is, 'Take a look at the tape of the game and see if that may not be the one you go out on. Let's talk after,'" Krzyzewski told Markazi. "And he probably wouldn't call. . He wouldn't be able to take 50 shots here."