It's about time that Kobe Bryant came out of his shell a little and showed a little bravado.
LakersNation.com reported on an appearance Bryant made at the Westfield Mall in Culver City, Calif., to promote his Kobe Nike Elite 9 shoe, and conducted an interview with Jeff G., aka "The Sports Dude" on Power 106 FM.
Jeff G. asked about Bryant's latest two-year contract and asked what Lakers fans can expect upon his return.
That's when the Black Mamba's self-confidence took over.
"This year, we all know it's been a real tough year for us right?" Bryant told Jeff G. "So what I'd like everybody to do is to really just sit back and just absorb this year. Take it all in. Sit back and watch and listen and hear all the hate that's being thrown at us and remember every person that's kicking you when you're down because next year it ain't gonna be this way."
Appreciate it now. Let it sit in now, because revenge is sweet and it's quick."
The Lakers will have a lot of money to spend during the offseason, but the team's play has suffered so extensively this season that free agents no longer view the organization as a destination. The team entered the weekend with the worst record in the Pacific Division, and Bryant will be 36 years old entering next season with two key injuries the past two seasons.
The Lakers are starting to lose the battle of Los Angeles to the rival Clippers, who recently signed former Indiana Pacers star Danny Granger. Free agents and available players used to want to sign with the Lakers because of a chance to win an NBA title.
Bryant says the Lakers now must dust themselves off and learn from the experience gained in 2013-14.
"You've got to appreciate that and enjoy that and use that as fuel as motivation to basically just shut everybody the hell up," Bryant said. "It's that challenge, that challenge that drives us all, I think, and definitely keeps me going."
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