After saying in Las Vegas that he hopes NBA pros will continue to represent their countries in the Olympics, Kobe Bryant voiced his dismay with the 23-and-under concept floated by NBA commissioner David Stern in even stronger terms Tuesday when Team USA arrived in the United Kingdom ahead of London 2012.

Speaking at an appearance at the town hall in Manchester not long after the Americans reached British soil via an overnight flight after Monday night’s exhibition victory over Brazil in Washington, D.C., Bryant branded Stern’s proposal to restrict the NBA’s Olympic involvement to players aged 23 and younger as “stupid.”

“It’s a stupid idea,” Bryant told local reporters at the reception to welcome them to Manchester in advance of Thursday night’s exhibition game here against Team Great Britain. “It should be a (player’s) choice.”

via Marc Stein of ESPN