T.J. SIMERS

It has come to pass for Kobe Bryant

When we move our chat to the end of his career, I ask him how he will feel if he doesn't win another ring.

"I can't see that happening," he says.

T.J. Simers
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We argue about what is sacrificed in the pursuit of always having to win, and he says, "Winning takes precedence over all. There's no gray area. No almosts.

"It's a very unbalanced way to live and I know that. It's not healthy. And I can't justify it, but someone has to win and why not me and the Lakers organization."

To win, he contends, he must set an example.

"This team needed it," he says. "In the meeting we had in Memphis we were talking about doing things that maybe we're not what we do best. What I do best is shoot, maybe passing is the best way for us to win now.

"I tried it in the seventh game of the [2006] playoffs against Phoenix," he says, while not pleased being known as the Tanker.

"I scored 50 in Game 6 and we lost. I scored like 17 in the first half, and took a gamble. I decided to pass to try and get everyone else going. It didn't work.

"I took the same gamble here and if it hadn't worked out, what would people be saying now? Kobe isn't shooting so he can prove some point?

"What I'm doing now is being selfish. I'm trying to help the team because I want to win a championship."

He says he hasn't decided when he will retire, but he knows fans won't see him fade as they did when Michael Jordan played with Washington.

"You didn't have to see that version of Michael. He retired at 36 in Chicago at the top of his game. There's a not a chance you'll see me [like that]."

So when the end comes, how does he wish to be remembered?

"As a winner and overachiever," he says. "A guy who worked and played hard like he was the 12th man on the roster."

And a complicated human being, pretty much like everyone else, I guess.

t.j.simers@latimes.com

Comments (58)

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jimaria taylor at 4:09 PM February 04, 2013

Kobe Bryant once told Shaq that he'd never drive a Corvette.I wonder if he would drive the 2014 Corvette. I guess a million dolla dude wouldnt drive a 100k dolla car.We talkin bout a guy who paid 4 million dollas for a ring to make up for his infidelity,so you tell me if he'd drive a Corvette.

jeffhanson1 at 1:44 PM February 03, 2013

Chemistry is overrated.
Sincerely,
The 2000 Portland Trailblazers "dream team" of Scottie Pippen, Rasheed Wallace, Steve Smith, and Detlef Schrempf.

Acrimony at 11:59 AM February 02, 2013

Kobe Bryant- No one has ever worked harder to master his craft.

T.J. Simers- No one has ever needed more work to master his craft.

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