Kobe once opened up on the most common misconception about him: "I've always been that way"

Kobe Bryant was called many things: a ball hog, selfish, and aloof. Name it, and the Los Angeles Lakers icon had probably heard it.

However, according to Bryant, nothing can be further from the truth. The Black Mamba asserted that there were reasons why he came across as distant to his teammates, especially during his early years with the Purple & Gold. That didn’t mean he was the same person portrayed by the media and some of his teammates.

“You know what, it’s funny because I’ve always been that way,” Bryant said on “Chris Myers Interview,” answering a question about whether he needed to make a conscious adjustment regarding his interactions with his teammates. “It’s just when I came to the NBA at the age of 18, I’m playing with guys who were 28, 30 years old. The dynamics were completely different.”

The age gap was too much

As Bryant continued, he further broke down the difference between his situation as an elder statesman of sorts for the Purple & Gold in 2006 compared with what he went through as a rookie. Kobe was 26 that year, so the age gap between him and his younger teammates was not as pronounced.

Back when Bryant was a rookie, he had to learn under the tutelage of Byron Scott. B-Scott was already 35 that season, which meant Bean was nearly half his age!

Kobe drew further examples, naming LeBron James in the process. In 2006, LBJ was widely considered a better leader than the Black Mamba, but nobody mentioned the closer age dynamics between James and the rest of his teammates.

In other words, Kobe meant he needed to be in his element and buckle down as a rookie because his teammates might think he was not taking things seriously. He needed to prove himself, so to speak, and that influenced how people perceived him.

When the Lakers were all his, Bryant could now show his true colors. Although his approach to practice and basketball remained the same, he forged friendships with many of his teammates. Kobe singled out Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins from the 2004-05 squad in the interview, and many more as the quest for his fourth title continued.

For instance, he considered himself a mentor and a brother to Sasha Vujacic and became best friends with Pau Gasol. Lamar Odom recalled how Bryant came to help when he was in a bind, plus dozens of other stories about Kobe being a great teammate.

Even though it’s hard to believe, anyone close to the Black Mamba could attest that he was always a people person at heart.

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Never judge a book by its cover

Bryant’s own words lined up with those of how people around him remembered the Lakers legend. Teammates and coaches often pointed to the way he connected behind the scenes, showing a side that never fit the aloof label. The stories that surfaced over the years only strengthened his claim that he’d always been more approachable than people assumed.

Those relationships stretched beyond the locker room and into his post-retirement endeavors. Bryant built ties with young athletes, Hollywood directors and producers, as well as entrepreneurs. That network became the backbone of his life after basketball, opening doors and deepening the creative circle that helped him grow far past basketball.

In many ways, Kobe’s scoffs and death stares painted him as this heartless villain who was out for blood. Sure, that’s who he was on the hardcourt, but that never meant he hated people. There are always different sides to the story, and for Bryant, the truth was in the relationships he kept, not the scary glare on the floor.

Related: Kobe Bryant revealed to Cindy Crawford how he survived rookie hazing: "I had Shaq"

This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 28, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.