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Anthony compares his Rio 2016 role to 2008 Kobe

REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Carmelo Anthony relished his role as senior statesman on Team USA's gold medal-winning entry in Rio de Janeiro - from leading on the floor to appearing perturbed by younger players Snapchatting on a plane.

But don't compare Melo to the 2012 Olympics version of Kobe Bryant. That guy was almost 34 years old. Instead, he likened himself to the 2008 Summer Games edition of Mamba.

"That's more like it," Anthony told NBA.com's David Aldridge. "2008 Kobe is more like it. We was actually surprised that he accepted the invitation in 2008. But once he got there it was more of kind of him and Jason Kidd, and kind of looking for those guys for that advice. That's what's happening here now. I'm the only one now."

Beijing was Bryant's first Olympics, a few weeks before he turned 30. He quickly became the de facto leader for that summer's "Redeem Team", a squad that recaptured gold after a disappointing showing in 2004.

With various absences stacking up for USA Basketball this summer, the 32-year-old Anthony secured his place as a program mainstay, playing in his fourth consecutive Olympics and winning his third gold in a row.

"I was the one that was following (Kobe) and wanted to work out with him every day, and train with him, and try to dig into his mindset to see how he was thinking and what his approach was to the game," Anthony said. "So I give that experience back to these guys."

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