I totally alienated some reporters as I retreated.

Elgin's game was an incredible performance, also. I don't think there's any comparison. Elgin did it without three-point lines. His game was attacking the hoop and hitting jumpers inside 20 feet. Kobe's range is unreal, and he does it his way.

Pride was his life force; for us it was a live nerve that he could teach us to brush. One stroke, a good practice, and we could tingle for days ... First, he found the pride in each of us, then he taught us how good it could feel. What he was ultimately after was for every one of us to learn to light our own fires and glow our brightest.

The Lakers fans have been great, even folks in the supermarket are welcoming me back.

I love basketball, but playing basketball doesn't fully define who I am. I was always a good student, too.

I feel that Dennis Rodman has become a problem. He will be more of a problem than an asset. Of course, he can prove me wrong.

I tell kids to pursue their basketball dreams, but I tell them to not let that be their only dream.