When high-profile figures in the world of basketball discuss United States President Donald Trump and his administration, it tends to be extremely critical, as we've seen from the likes of Steve Kerr and Gregg Popovich.
Players on championship rosters are afforded the opportunity to visit the White House and mingle with the POTUS in celebration, although, with Trump in power, more and more athletes are being forthright about how they'd turn down the invitation to attend.
Former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant isn't entirely sure what he'd do if he were to hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy at this time. Then again, if he did go, his attendance would be influenced by several factors unrelated to who's in charge of the country.
"I probably would go," Bryant said to Politico's Ben Strauss following a brief pause. "That visit is more than how you feel about the current administration. It's about the guys next to you, about the flag, about the kids out there who look up to you and the United States. But, honestly, it's a tough call."
If former president Barack Obama were still in power, it would be a no-brainer for The Black Mamba. Shortly after announcing his retirement in 2015, Bryant visited the White House just to pick Obama's brain.
"In sports, you get better by working in the gym," Bryant added. "I wanted to know how he got better, from managing his schedule to what he reads. And because he gets sports, and we can talk about that, too, it makes it easier to have that connection."
