Kobe Bryant
S: Everybody compare you with Michael Jordan,
I don't want to ask who is better.
But how do you take questions like this in your heart?
K: You know, for me, it's like having a mentor
who's taught you a lot about the game of basketball.
I've been very fortunate to have great mentors,
started with my father, absolutely Michael Jordan,
in basketball you have J. West, Oscar Robertson.
And these guys, all these guys
have been able to speak to and talk to,
and they've taught me a lot about the game of basketball.
That's how I look at it.
I look at it as a form of respect, as a sign of respect for them.
S: Are you a superstitious person?
K: Not really.
S: The numbers, like your number, or other numbers?
K: No, not superstitious about numbers.
But I have, like for example, No. 24 that I wear.
It is very symbolic to me, because it is 24 hours in a day.
In my philosophy, you have to live everyday to the fullest,
to not lose a single moment in your life.
That' why No. 24 is so important to me.
S: Now you are a legendary figure
and people say you are magic and you have such a big talent,
when you are on the court playing basketball,
you know, fans call your name,
they give your flowers, cheers and everything.
You are on the top of the world.
But you know in Chinese philosophy,
we have sayings like that
"when you are on the top, you are more lonely",
do you feel that?
K: No, I feel great. I have a family and great friends.
My teammates have been great.
I've been very very lucky so far.
But in terms of the game itself,
when you're leading a team so get to NBA championship,
you have to be little lonely somewhere,
because you have to be able to tear yourself from the group
and to be able to observe,
to make sure everybody's going in the right direction.
So you have to remove yourself emotionally sometimes
to be able to then step back again and live yourself.
S: You don't mind to mention your age, 31.
It's not a young age, right? In a basketball player.
K: It depends on how you take care of yourself.
31, you can be an old 31 or a young 31.
Since I've come to the NBA,
I've really been very focused on taking care of my body,
and make sure I stay a shape.
I think because of that, I feel like I'm young... I'm young 30.