USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo recently revealed that NBA superstar Kobe Bryant could still play for Team USA in the 2016 Rio Olympics if he decides to do so amidst reports of the five-time NBA champion's retirement at the end of the current season.

Colangelo told ESPN's Marc Stein on Sunday that Bryant's proclamation of his retirement "doesn't have any bearing" on the 17-time All-Star's "status for the Rio Games" and he is still welcome to join the 12-man roster of the United States national basketball team if ever he wants to.

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"We have this whole season to look at all of our players," the sports executive said.

Meanwhile, Bryant had expressed his respect and appreciation on Colangelo's gesture, saying that he would be "honored" to be a part of the Olympic team one more time if the opportunity is there, but it was something that he would have to reflect upon first.

"I'd be honored if that was there, it would be fantastic to be around that group and spend kind of the last journey with them," said Bryant when asked by the media about Colangelo's statement after the Lakers 107-103 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night, as reported by NBC Sports. "That being said, it's not something that I'm obsessing over."

Bryant helped Team USA win the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics, but had announced after the London games that it would be his last participation in international competitions.

Sports Illustrated noted that the two-time NBA Finals MVP has not joined any of "Team USA's mandatory minicamps this year", but that Colangelo was generous to say that Bryant is still "entitled to an opportunity" to represent flag and country one last time.

The 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player and four-time All-Star Game MVP has become only a shell of his familiar dominant form, averaging 15.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 31 minutes a night in 13 games so far for the Lakers.

Tags NBA news, NBA News 2015, USA Basketball, Team USA, Jerry Colangelo