Kobe Bryant recently spoke to ESPN about trash-talking, as well as the Lakers' difficult season.
"Trash talking is part of the business. I always look at it as a sign of respect," Bryant said "There are certain barriers that you don't go into; I keep it about the game. You can be as cutthroat and ruthless as you want as it pertains to the game.
Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks) was recently suspended for looking to confront Kevin Garnett (Boston Celtics) after the game, apparently upset at the words Garnett chose to trash-talk with.
Bryant noted that he came into the league during a different era where players like Michael Jordan, Clyde Drexler and John Stockton made NBA trash-talking "as cutthroat as you can get."
"I don't know if this generation, I don't know if they're trash talkers," continued Bryant. "Everybody kind of grew up together and grew up being friends with each other -- so it's a little bit uncomfortable to trash-talk each other."
The Lakers are 15-21 and in danger of falling out of the playoff race.
"We have to execute better," Bryant said. "A lot of times when you hit tough stretches, you become so impatient to get yourself out of it that you start missing little details of the game -- start skipping steps -- because all you can think about is the end result. We have to kind of lock-down more and get back to the basics of the game."
The Lakers have lost six straight games. They host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night.
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Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.
