Report: Kobe's breakout game against Australia was capped with a drug test

You may have heard Grant Hill's little story about how players on the 1996 Olympic team tried to avoid being the high scorer because that player was often drug tested postgame.

Olympic officials denied that, so maybe it was just coincidence that Kobe Bryant was reportedly chosen for one after his big 20-point game in the quarterfinals against Australia. Via the New York Post:

So what was Kobe Bryant's reward for his 20-point second-half outburst in Team USA's quarterfinal victory over Australia on Wednesday night? An Olympic drug test.

According to a source, Bryant was the USA player chosen to take the mandatory random drug test after the late-night contest and was unable to ride back to the team hotel with his teammates. With the game beginning at 10:15 p.m. here, Bryant didn't arrive back at the hotel until 2 a.m.

Kobe had struggled mightily early in the tournament and game, but finally found his legs against the Boomers in the second half. And maybe it was because he ended up leading the U.S. in scoring, or maybe because it was just his turn, but he got the call to the principle's office.

So if you see Kobe deferring late in the game Friday against Argentina, I think you'll know why.