"I'mma show you what language I'm gonna speak: Kobe Bryant once trash-talked Luis Scola during the 2008 Olympics

It's hard to forget Kobe Bryant as Team USA gears up for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The late LA Lakers legend was one of the vital cogs in the US setup alongside LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony. Bryant ended his career as a 2x Olympics Gold winner, and it's safe to say that the 'Black Mamba' was one of the ultimate trash talkers, even at the marquee tournament that pits the best against the best.

Bryant and Team USA's 2008 skirmish vs. Argentina in the Beijing Olympics wasn't without a fair share of banter as the Lakers guard took on Luis Scola. Bryant spoke fluent Spanish and chose to insult Scola in his native language.

However, Scola wasn't one to take it and responded:

"Speak in English, you do that better".

This saw Bryant turn up the heat:

"I'mma show you what language I speak...I'll make sure you understand this."

The trash-talk eventually had to be tapered down when LeBron James intervened, asking his teammate to relax. In the next play, Bryant used a turnover and ran across the floor for an emphatic dunk to further rub salt into Scola's wounds.

Quite simply, Kobe Bryant's presence added a layer of relentless competitiveness that saw the side steamroll opponents to win the gold, and sure enough, it came with a good dose of trash-talk as well.

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Kobe Bryant told his teammates he was tired of watching them lose

A Kobe Bryant boost was in the offing for Team USA after their 2004 Olympics campaign ended in disappointment. The 5x NBA champion was roped in to bolster the team's chances of winning Gold at Beijing, and given his immense competitive nature in the NBA, his teammate Carmelo Anthony told him that the US side needed a different version of Bryant.

"I get it, I understand it. I'm tired of watching y'all lose."

Bryant never lost with Team USA and holds an undefeated record that LeBron James cannot top either. The Lakers icon never lost while donning red, white, and blue.

He averaged 13.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 37 percent from beyond the arc in 16 Olympic appearances. He ended his illustrious career with a perfect 36-0 record while playing for Team USA. Now, it remains to be seen whether the 2024 squad, that comprises Steph Curry and Kevin Durant, can clinch gold for the national side.