TCA 2014: Kobe Bryant wants to score with Showtime documentary

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant is not only preparing for the final phase of his championship career, he’s also getting ready for his close-up.

Bryant is the focus of an upcoming documentary, “Kobe Bryant’s Muse,” a feature-length film about his life, inspirations and challenges, which will air on Showtime this fall.

The project, which is being directed by Gotham Chopra, has been in production for 10 months and is still being shot. It is scheduled to be broadcast in November.

“This is about what has inspired me in my life and career,” Bryant said during an appearence at the Television Critics Assn. “It’s about looking forward to the challenge of what the next stage will be.”

Bryant, who is returning to the Lakers this season after missing most of last season due to injury, is one of the executive producers of the documentary, along with Chopra.

Bryant also took a few minutes to talk about the coming NBA season, saying he is healthy and eager for the season to start so he can play basketball.

He said the Chicago Bulls, which signed Bryant’s friend and former teammate Pau Gasol, has become a title contender (“Christmas came early for them”), while the Cleveland Cavaliers have done a “180 degree” turnaround with the return of LeBron James.

As for the Lakers, Bryant he was very pleased with the team’s management: “They’ve done phenomenally well” in pursuing former free agents James and Carmelo Anthony, even though the Lakers did not manage to sign the stars. “I would say I am 100% happy with their effort.”

He said Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak has done well in putting together a revamped Lakers team: “Now it’s time for me to do my job.”