Lebron James and Kobe Bryant were instrumental in the United States of America’s 2008 comeback to dominance in the world basketball circuit. Before this, the American squad had been regarded as the best in the sport, but they had been let down by their inability to bring home gold medals from the FIBA World Cup in 2002 and 2006 and the Olympics in 2004.

Up-and-coming basketball players like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Carlos Boozer were coached by newcomer Mike Krzyzewski during their summer camps. At the 2006 FIBA World Cup, the team played well together, but they were defeated by Greece and had to settle for another bronze. But with the arrival of veteran players like Michael Redd, Jason Kidd, and Kobe Bryant—who gave the team a much-needed boost—things changed. Bryant had a big influence on the team’s culture and methodology from the moment he joined, and everyone else soon caught up to his work ethic.

Despite being two of the NBA’s biggest stars, Bryant and James’ willingness to set aside their egos was crucial to the team’s success. At the time, Bryant and James were frequently compared in the media’s fervor over who was the greatest player in the world. Nevertheless, they were able to cooperate and encourage their teammates to adopt the team’s mindset. The team’s success was largely due to their chemistry.

The USA team ended their eight-year quest for a first-place result by winning the coveted gold medal, despite not being the best scorer, rebounder, or assist leader.

In a major tournament, the USA basketball team went 8-0 and earned the nickname “Redeem Team.” They won the semifinal match 101-81 against Argentina and the championship match 118-107 against Spain. Cooperation allowed Lebron James and Kobe Bryant to develop a strong friendship during their time at Team USA camps. Bryant had a more reserved manner and didn’t make friends with other superstars when he first started playing in the NBA.

When Kobe Bryant joined the Team USA camp in 2007 and was surrounded by a younger group of players, things took a different turn. Because of his friendship with LeBron James, he was eventually asked to coach the league’s young basketball players. This marked a pivotal moment in his leadership development as he began to speak up more and build relationships with his teammates off the court, helping them to succeed and adjust more successfully.