Kobe Bryant is ready to reprise his role as Team USA's closer in the 2012 London Games.

“I’m the closer, man,” said Bryant when asked if his role would be any different than in 2008. “They just bring me in in the last two minutes or something like that. If they need me. That’s what I do. LeBron, D-Wade, Durant, all those guys, they can do the heavy lifting.”

Bryant struggled for much of the ‘08 Olympic tournament, but responded in the gold medal game, scoring or assisting on 18 of the United States’ final 25 points, including a four-point play after Spain had cut the lead to five with less than three minutes remaining.

Bryant ranked third on Team USA in scoring, fourth in assists and steals, and second in minutes played.

Jerry Colangelo has no intention of adding another guard to the USA preliminary roster now that Chauncey Billups is likely lost for the season after tearing his left Achilles tendon.

“I really feel terrible for him in every way,” Colangelo said about Billups. “Not just for the Olympics, but because it is career threatening. There is no guarantee we’d replace him [on the roster]. My gut tells me probably not.

“We have a lot of guards. I will check with coach [Mike Krzyzewski], but probably not.”

Billups was one of eight guards on a camp roster that also includes Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Eric Gordon, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook and Deron Williams.