Colangelo: Kobe remains in contention to make 2016 Olympic team

Kobe Bryant's 20-year NBA tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers will conclude at the end of the 2015-16 season, but his days of playing basketball may go beyond that.

That's because The Black Mamba remains in contention for one of the 12 roster spots on Team USA's 2016 Olympic squad in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo told ESPN's Marc Stein.

Bryant, who won Olympic gold in both 2008 (Beijing) and 2012 (London), would obviously love to be a part of the team, but has said that he wants to earn the spot instead of simply having it handed to him.

"It would mean the world to me to be around those guys,'' Bryant said earlier in the month, according to The Associated Press. ''I think to be able to have a chance to continue the relationship that I already have with most of those guys, talking and just kind of being around each other and understanding that this is it, it's just us being together, that would be fun.''

He reiterated Sunday that while he'd be honored to be in Rio, "It's not something I'm obsessing over."

Colangelo was originally adamant that only players attending the mini-camps in Las Vegas would be eligible to crack the roster, but it appears special consideration will be given to the 17-time All-Star.

"If he had a great year, it would be a great story for him to try to close out his career by winning a gold medal," Colangelo said to Sheridan Hoops' Chris Sheridan back in August.

The problem is that Bryant is having anything but a "great year" for the 2-14 Lakers, averaging 15.7 points on 31.5 percent shooting from the field and 19.5 percent from deep.

If the five-time NBA champion dons the red, white, and blue, it would allow his playing career to at least end on a high note. However, with his horrid numbers and ailing body, it would be hard to justify him taking a spot from someone who can perhaps contribute more to the team.