You always have to be on edge. You always have to take every practice, every game, like it is your last.

We all can be masters at our craft, but you have to make sacrifices that come along with making that decision.

I have my own identity ... The whole Michael thing does drive me nuts sometimes because people won't leave it alone. He's bald, I have hair. He's almost 40, I'm 22. Seriously though, I wish people would let it be and let me just be Kobe.

I was shooting 45 times a game. What was I supposed to do? Pass it into Chris Mihm & Kwame Brown?

I was probably born a scorer, but I was made a winner. Whatever works, whatever wins championships, wins games, that's what I do.

Thank god, I'm not from this world.

As far as carrying the torch for the years to come, I don't know. I just want to be the best basketball player I can be.