Kobe Bryant: 'I'm not looking at my legacy as where I fit in with the greatest of all-time'

Los Angeles Lakers star to retire at the end of the season

(Getty Images)

Kobe Bryant may well be on his last legs, but one of basketball's all-time greats still has a little bit left in the tank.

The 37-year-old, a Los Angeles Laker for his entire career, announced a month ago that this season, his 20th in the NBA, would be the final of a long and storied career that has seen him win five titles, named the MVP, be selected as an All-Star on 17 occasions, earn 15 All-NBA nods and win two Olympic Gold medals.

He is currently the third highest scorer in NBA history and widely considered one of the greatest ever. Although Bryant has endured an injury hit final three seasons, and is likely to end this one with another losing record, fans around the league have already shown their appreciation for the Black Mamba.

At every road fixture the Lakers have played this season, there have been hundreds of 'Bryant 24' jerseys on display and the guard has received as big a cheer as any player on the home side.

On 25 December, Bryant will play in his 16th Christmas Day game, an NBA record, in one of five games that will be televised in 215 countries and more than 40 languages around the world.

But Bryant isn't worried about his legacy.

"I try to look at my legacy and how it impacts the future of the game," said Bryant in a global media call with 146 reporters from 24 countries, a record. "I'm not looking at my legacy from the standpoint of where I fit in with the greatest of all-time.

"For me, it's a moot point and a shallow argument. I think the most important thing and the most beautiful thing is 'how does your legacy impact the generation of players to come?' If what I've done and what I've stood for these 20 years has impacted the players today and the players tomorrow in a positive way, in a way they can then carry that legacy on themselves and impact the generation to follow, that's much more significant than where I stand in history."

Bryant was also asked about where he fits in the conversation with the greats, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and so on and if there would be 'another' Kobe Bryant.

"We’re all different players, you know what I mean? We’re all different players, we’re all different people," he said. "There’s never another Magic, there’s never another Bird, there’s never another Michael, now there’s never another me just because we’re just different people. I mean the way I went about it is different. The way the next player will go about it will be different as well, right? So, you know, we all kind of do things our own way.

"I think there’s a lot of young talent in this league today. I think there’s – the game has been skewed a little more towards point guards and there being a tremendous amount of – you know, that being said, I think there’s going to be a player that over the next ten years is going rise above them all, maybe, right? He’s got to be a player that comes out and wins more championships than everybody else and maybe they’ll be that player and maybe there won’t be. Maybe there will be so much parity around the league. Maybe one player will win it one year, another player will win it the next year and then kind of go back and forth. So that remains to be seen."


 Kobe Bryant, alongside Shaquille O'Neal, with one of his five NBA titles
 (Getty Images)

Bryant was also asked to name the top five players he played against in his illustrious career - and gave a rather surprising answer.

"Hakeem Olajuwan, Michael Jordan, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Clyde Drexler," he said.

"[It's] a little tougher for me because I came in the league where there were so many great players playing like John Stockton was still playing; Clyde Drexler was still playing.

"Gary Payton, Anfernee [Hardaway]. The top five players is a little tough for me."

Fans of Team USA are still calling for Bryant to be included in the squad for the Rio De Janiero games next summer, even if his play doesn't quite merit it.

"It's not something I'm absolutely pressing for but being part of the Olympic experience is a beautiful thing," he added.


 Bryant would love to play in his third Olympic Games next summer
 (GETTY IMAGES)

"It would be a beautiful thing to finish my career playing internationally. But that being said we will see how it goes."

Bryant, who spent part of his youth in Italy where his father played professionally, also said the time had passed to play abroad.

"I would have loved to have played overseas for a season but it's not going to happen. I wish I could have done it but I can’t. My body won't let me.

"My body has been through a lot. And it's very easy to forget I haven't played because of it. My timing is off, my rhythm is off. It was about me continuing my training and believing my timing will come back and that's what happened."

The Los Angeles Lakers take on the Los Angeles Clippers as part of a very special NBA Christmas Day. Catch all five NBA Christmas Day games from 5pm live on BT Sport and via NBA LEAGUE PASS at www.nba.tv.