First of all, I don’t hate Lebron.  In fact, I like his personality and his skillsets. I just don’t understand why he would proclaim himself as the leader of Team USA.  Lebron said he took that responsibility from day one.

When was that? Was that the time he handed headphones to all the Team USA players?  Was it the time they “won” the bronze in Athens?  Granted, Lebron has matured big time (since Athens) and is a very capable leader but he has to know his place.  And that place is behind Kobe Bryant.

He has to understand that Team USA is good now because primarily of its defense.  When Kobe arrived, he instilled it on them.  Kobe set the tone.  He wanted to guard the other team’s big dog.  That is the sign of a true leader - find your own team’s weakness and if no one else can solve that weakness, try to amend that weakness yourself.

Listen, without Kobe, Tayshaun Prince would be the primary on-ball defender of Team USA.  Can you envision Tayshaun logging a lot of minutes in this all-star team?  I bet not.  If you put in Tayshaun, the team’s offense wouldn’t be as nasty as when Kobe is around.

I know Kobe has been struggling the past couple of games but when it counted the most, Kobe came through.  He’s a wily fox - he is saving his strength for the important games (Australia, Argentina, Greece and perhaps Spain in the finals).

Don’t get me wrong.  Lebron has been nothing short of spectacular.  He is like the glue in this team.  He initiates the offense and scores a lot of points for the team.  His defense is even great.  However, when it counts the most, you know Kobe will rise, and he has risen when it’s needed, so far.

You don’t have to listen to me.  Coach K said himself that it’s Kobe’s time.  Chris Paul said that Kobe’s presence gives them a little bit more swagger.  Apparently, Chris Bosh also said that the difference in winning the gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympics is Kobe.

Kobe’s leadership is not seen in every game for this all-star team.  It is seen when it is needed.  Kobe’s leadership is not proclaimed by him.  It is proclaimed by others.  Kobe’s leadership is not necesarilly seen in the stat sheet.  It is seen in the team’s swagger and confidence - for they know, when something goes wrong, Kobe will fix it.

Here’s the proof of Kobe Bryant’s leadership:

In its stunning loss to Greece in 2006, the young U.S. players broke down completely on defense as the Greeks scored on pick-and-roll after pick-and-roll.

In the very first play of last summer’s Tournament of the Americas, Bryant tipped the ball away from the Venezuela point guard, dived on the court trying to get it, got back up, stole the next pass and started a fastbreak.

They’ve defended like banshees ever since.

“That’s the clip Coach K [Coach Mike Krzyzewski] always uses, Kobe diving on the floor,” says U.S. scout Tony Ronzone. “You’re talking about an MVP player in the NBA who just made a statement to USA basketball. . . . And what that did is it took our defense to another level.

Kobe’s time is now and you know he’s the leader of Team USA.

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