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.

The most important thing, the thing that unites all of us, is that we can INSPIRE and CHALLENGE one another TO BE BETTER.

If there were camera phones back in the day, the biggest athletes in the world would have had a lot of explaining to do.

You're my backbone. You're a blessing. You're a piece of my heart. You're the air I breathe. And you're the strongest person I know, and I'm so sorry for having to put you through this and having to put our family through this.

Christmas morning, I'm going to open presents with my kids. I'm going to take pictures of them opening the presents. Then I'm going to come to the Staples Center and get ready to work.

One thing you gotta know about me is I have absolutely no filter. I have no problem saying what the hell I think of someone.

Basketball is my refuge, my sanctuary. I go back to being a kid on the playground. When I get here, it's all good.