>> Jimmy: HI.
I'M JIMMY KIMMEL.
A
AND TONIGHT'S SHOW IS GOING TO 
BE DIFFERENT FROM OUR USUAL 
SHOW.
WE DON'T HAVE A STUDIO AUDIENCE 
HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE GOING 
FORWARD WITH A COMEDY SHOW 
DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT CONSIDERING 
WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY.
SO I'D LIKE TO JUST SPEAK TO YOU
DIRECTLY.
AS YOU UNDOUBTEDLY KNOW, 
KOBE BRYANT AND HIS DAUGHTER 
GIANNA AND SEVEN OF THEIR 
FRIENDS WERE KILLED IN A 
HELICOPTER CRASH YESTERDAY HERE 
IN LOS ANGELES, AND THAT WAS A 
PUNCH IN THE GUT FOR MANY OF US.
KOBE WAS, AND I KNOW THIS MIGHT 
NOT MAKE SENSE, BUT HE WAS JUST 
THE LAST PERSON YOU COULD EVER 
IMAGINE SOMETHING LIKE THIS 
HAPPENING TO.
HE WAS SO STRONG AND HANDSOME 
AND SMART AND ENERGETIC.
HE WAS A HERO.
AND WHEN I SAY THAT, I DON'T 
MEAN A HERO LIKE REAL HEROES 
LIKE FIREFIGHTERS OR DOCTORS AND
NURSES WHO ACTUALLY SAVE LIVES.
I DON'T MEAN TO COMPARE WHAT HE 
DID FOR A LIVING TO WHAT THEY 
DO.
I KNOW THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT 
THINGS THAN BASKETBALL.
ALMOST EVERYTHING IS MORE 
IMPORTANT.
BUT KOBE WAS A HERO IN THE WAY 
SUPERMAN IS A HERO.
HE WAS SO BIG, IT WAS ALMOST 
LIKE HE WAS A FICTIONAL 
CHARACTER.
HE WAS A REAL-LIFE SUPERHERO 
WITH A COSTUME AND EVERYTHING 
WALKING AAMONGST US.
THOSE OF US WHO LOVE THE LAKERS 
KNOW IT, IT SEEMS LIKE HE ALWAYS
CAME THROUGH, HE ALWAYS SHOWED 
UP TO SAVE THE DAY.
HE WANTED TO SAVE THE DAY.
HE HAD A FORCE OF WILL.
HE NEVER GAVE UP.
AS AN ATHLETE HE WAS INCREDIBLY 
GIFTED, MORE THAN ALMOST ANYONE.
HE WAS TALENTED BEYOND REASON.
AND YET HE WORKED HARDER THAN 
EVERYONE.
HE WORKED HARDER THAN PEOPLE 
WITH MUCH LESS TALENT THAN HE 
HAD.
HE TOOK HIS JOB AND HIS PURSUIT 
OF EXCELLENCE SO SERIOUSLY, HE 
WAS COMPLETELY DEDICATED TO 
BEING AS GOOD AS HE POSSIBLY 
COULD BE.
WHICH IS INSPIRING TO ANYONE WHO
DOES ANYTHING.
AND WE LOVED HIM BECAUSE OF 
THAT.
BUT WE ALSO LOVED HIM BECAUSE HE
WAS OURS.
WE WATCHED HIM GROW UP HERE.
HE CAME TO L.A. WHEN HE WAS A 
TEENAGER.
AND UNLIKE ALMOST EVERY OTHER 
SUPERSTAR ATHLETE, HE NEVER 
LEFT.
IN HIS 20-YEAR CAREER HE ONLY 
WORE TWO UNIFORMS, FOR THE 
LAKERS AND FOR THE UNITED STATES
OLYMPIC TEAM.
THERE WERE TEAMS WHEN IT SEEMED 
LIKE HE WOULD LEAVE, BUT HE 
DIDN'T.
HE ZAID UNTIL THE END.
AND HE'S SOMEONE ALMOST EVERYONE
IN THE CITY LOVED.
AND NOT JUST LAKERS FANS.
EVERYONE WOULD LIGHT UP WHEN 
THEY SAW HIM.
I SAW MANY TIMES.
HE WAS A SPECIAL PERSON.
A GREAT BASKETBALL PLAYER FOR 
SURE, BUT MORE THAN THAT, HE HAD
SO MANY INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF 
SPORTS.
HE WAS INTENSELY CURIOUS.
HE WOULD CALL PEOPLE HE ADMIRED 
TO INTERVIEW THEM, BUSINESS 
LEADERS, WRITERS, INVENTORS.
HE WAS ALWAYS LEARNING, ALWAYS 
IMPROVING.
HE HAD A HUNGER FOR THAT.
WHEN HE WAS INJURED, WHEN HE 
TORE HIS ACHILLES, I SENT HIM A 
BOOK, AND TO MY SURPRISE HE READ
IT AND THEN CALLED ME TO DISCUSS
IT IN MANIACAL DETAIL.
HE WANTED TO KNOW EVERYTHING 
ABOUT IT.
AND I WAS LIKE I DON'T KNOW, 
KOBE, I DIDN'T WRITE IT.
I JUST BOUGHT THE BOOK.
AND I HAD TO PUT HIM IN TOUCH 
WITH THE GUY WHO WROTE THE BOOK.
AND THAT'S WHAT HE WAS LIKE.
I HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH 
KOBE OFF OF TELEVISION.
AND THEY ALWAYS INVOLVED HIS 
DAUGHTERS.
ALWAYS.
ONCE HE RETIRED FROM BASKETBALL,
HIS LIFE REVOLVED AROUND THEIR 
LIVES.
HE WAS VERY PROUD OF THEM.
HE LOVED BEING A FATHER.
WHEN MY SON HAD HEART SURGERY, 
HE CHECKED IN WITH ME 
REPEATEDLY.
HE MADE A POINT ONCE BILLY, MY 
SON, WAS OUT OF THE HOSPITAL TO 
MEET HIM.
HE WANTED TO MEET HIM.
AND FROM TIME TO TIME HE WOULD 
CHECK IN TO SEE HOW HE WAS 
DOING.
AND YES, I KNOW HE WAS NOT A 
PERFECT PERSON.
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
MY INTENTION IS NOT TO CANONIZE 
HIM OR MAKE JUDGMENTS ABOUT 
THINGS I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING 
ABOUT.
BUT I WILL SAY HE LOVED HIS 
FAMILY, HE WORKED VERY HARD, AND
HE BROUGHT A LOT OF JOY TO A LOT
OF PEOPLE IN THIS CITY AND WE'RE
GOING TO MISS HIM.
AND I HOPE YOU WILL PRAY FOR HIS
DAUGHTER, GIANNA, AND FOR THEIR 
MOTHER, VANESSA, FOR THE THREE 
GIRLS KOBE LEFT BEHIND WHO LOST 
THEIR FATHER AND THEIR SISTER, 
AND FOR HIS FRIENDS WHO WERE ON 
THAT FLIGHT WITH HIM.
THE ALTOBELLI FAMILY, CHRISTINA 
MAUSER'S FAMILY, THE CHESTER 
FAMILY, ARAH ZOBAYAN, THE PILOT.
I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW MUCH THEY 
ARE MISSED.
THIS WAS A TERRIBLE LOSS FOR 
THOSE FAMILIES AND FOR THE 
LAKERS, FOR KOBE'S TEAMMATES, 
FOR HIS FANS.
IT'S JUST -- THERE'S NO SILVER 
LINING HERE.
IT'S ALL BAD.
IT'S ALL SAD.
HE WAS A BRIGHT LIGHT.
AND THAT'S HOW I WANT TO 
REMEMBER HIM.
HE WAS ON THE SHOW 15 TIMES.
WE HAD MANY FUN AND INTERESTING 
CONVERSATIONS.
AND TONIGHT WE ARE GOING TO 
SHARE SOME OF THOSE TO REMEMBER 
HIM.
STARTING WITH WHAT TURNED OUT TO
BE THE LAST INTERVIEW I GOT TO 
DO WITH HIM FROM SEPTEMBER OF 
LAST YEAR.
>> Jimmy: PLEASE WISH A WARM 
TACO TUESDAY TO LAKERS LEGEND 
KOBE BRYANT.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
♪ 
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> I'M GOOD.
>> Jimmy: GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> YOU TOO, MAN.
>> Jimmy: YOU LOOK GOOD.
YOU LOOK GOOD.
>> THANK YOU.
[ CROWD CHANTING "MVP" ]
THANK YOU.
>> Jimmy: DO YOU HEAR THAT A 
LOT?
YOU'RE RUNNING AROUND IN TRAFFIC
AND WHATNOT?
>> ALL THE TIME.
>> Jimmy: YOU DO.
>> IT'S AWESOME, THOUGH.
>> Jimmy: COULD BE A 4R09LOT WO.
EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT?
CONGRATS.
YOU HAVE ANOTHER DAUGHTER SINCE 
YOU WERE LAST HERE.
>> YEAH.
>> Jimmy: IS SHE TWO MONTHS OLD?
>> YEAH, SHE'S TWO MONTHS OLD.
>> Jimmy: YOU CALL HER KOKO?
>> YEAH.
K-O-K-O.
>> Jimmy: HER MIDDLE NAME IS 
KOBE.
AFTER YOU.
>> IT WASN'T MY IDEA.
>> Jimmy: IT WASN'T YOUR IDEA?
>> NO.
VANESSA CAME TO ME AND SAID I'M 
THINKING ABOUT NAMING HER KOBE, 
MIDDLE NAME.
AND I'M LIKE, UH.
>> Jimmy: YOU HAVE TO EXPLAIN 
IT.
>> OKAY.
THEN TIME GOES ON AND SHE'S 
LIKE, YOU KNOW, I'M ACTUALLY 
GOING TO CHANGE HER MIDDLE NAME.
I'M LIKE WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
[ LAUGHTER ]
I DIDN'T THINK YOU WERE TOO HOT 
ABOUT IT.
I SAID YOU CAN'T CHANGE IT NOW, 
DUDE.
YOU CAN'T GIVE ME A GIFT AND 
THEN TAKE IT BACK.
>> Jimmy: THAT'S RIGHT.
>> YOU KNOW?
>> Jimmy: FOUR DAUGHTERS NOW.
>> YEAH.
>> Jimmy: I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT
YOU HAVE DAUGHTERS.
I FEEL LIKE IF YOU HAD A SON IN 
SPORTS IT MIGHT BE TOO MUCH FOR 
THAT KID.
>> YEAH.
>> Jimmy: I DO.
>> MAYBE.
BUT YOU KNOW, LIKE I LOVE HAVING
GIRLS.
>> Jimmy: YEAH.
IT SUITS YOU.
>> THEY'RE AWESOME, MAN.
HAVING A BOY, I THINK MY WIFE 
WANTS A BOY MORE SO THAN I DO.
>> Jimmy: I SEE.
INTERESTING.
>> BUT I LOVE MY GIRLS.
SHE KEEPS SAYING STOP SPEAKING 
IT INTO EXISTENCE.
I LOVE MY GIRLS.
STOP SAYING THAT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
YOU WANT A BOY.
>> Jimmy: WHAT IS KOBE BRYANT 
LIKE IN THE DELIVERY ROOM?
DO YOU BRING THE MAMBA MENTALITY
TO THAT?
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> IF I TRY TO SAY SOMETHING TO 
MY LIFE WHEN SHE WAS GIVING 
BIRTH, MAN, SHE'D MAMBA 
MENTALITY MY ASS UPSIDE MY HEAD.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> Jimmy: YOUR OLDEST DAUGHTER 
IS NOW HOW OLD?
>> 16.
>> Jimmy: IS SHE DRIVING NOW?
>> SHE IS.
SHE'S LIKE A SEASONED VET, TOO, 
MAN.
>> Jimmy: WHY?
>> SHE'S JUST REALLY CALM.
>> Jimmy: OH.
I SEE.
>> BEHIND THE WHEEL.
VERY CALM.
DOESN'T WANT TO LISTEN TO ANY 
LOUD OR FAST MUSIC.
SHE'S JUST A VERY SAFE AND LIKE 
CAUTIOUS CAREFUL DRIVER.
>> Jimmy: IS THAT JUST WHEN 
YOU'RE IN THE CAR OR -- 
>> NO, NO.
THAT'S ALWAYS, BRO.
LIKE SHE'S JUST ALWAYS VERY 
COOL, CALM AND COLLECTED.
I'M VERY PROUD OF HER.
>> Jimmy: YOU'RE VERY LUCKY.
THAT MEANS THE NEXT ONE'S GOING 
TO BE A MANIAC BEHIND THE WHEEL.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> I ALWAYS SAY IF YOU LOOK AT 
THE ELDEST DAUGHTER, SHE'S 
ALWAYS LIKE THE CALM, 
RESPONSIBLE, THOUGHTFUL ONE.
YOU KNOW?
AND THEN THE SECOND SISTER'S 
LIKE A TORNADO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
YOU KNOW, LIKE ELSA AND ANNA.
YEAH, SHE CAN FREEZE THE CITY 
AND ALL THAT.
BUT YOU KNOW, SHE'S RESPONSIBLE 
ABOUT IT.
AND THEN THERE'S ANNA WHO JUST 
JUMPS OFF CLIFFS.
THAT'S CERTAINLY OUR HOUSE.
BUT THEN WE HAVE TWO OTHER ONES.
>> Jimmy: YOUR SECOND OLDEST 
DAUGHTER IS GIANNA, SATELLITE. 
>> YEAH.
>> Jimmy: SO SHE REALLY IS LIKE 
ANNA.
YOU GAVE HER THE NAME. 
>> HOW ABOUT THAT?
>> Jimmy: SHE WAS, AND CORRECT 
ME IF I HAVE THIS WRONG, BUT YOU
HAD A GAME AND IT WAS A PLAYOFF 
GAME AGAINST THE SUNS.
YOU TIED THE GAME, WENT INTO 
OVERTIME, AND THEN YOU SCORED 
LIKE SIX SECONDS LEFT.
THEN YOU RACED TO THE DELIVERY 
ROOM AND LATER THAT EVENING, 
EARLY IN THE MORNING YOUR 
DAUGHTER WAS BORN.
>> THAT SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT.
EITHER THAT NIGHT OR THE DAY 
AFTER.
I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY.
>> Jimmy: DID YOU KNOW YOUR WIFE
WAS IN LABOR WHILE YOU WERE 
PLAYING THE GAME?
>> NO.
IT DIDN'T HAPPEN DURING THE 
GAME.
IT HAPPENED AFTER.
BUT IT WAS LIKE -- 
>> Jimmy: SO THERE WAS NO 
THOUGHT LIKE MAYBE I'LL MISS 
THIS ONE AND HEAD HOME?
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> INSTEAD OF SENDING THE GAME 
TO OVERTIME?
MAYBE OVERTIME'S NOT A GOOD IDEA
IN THE LONG RUN.
YEAH.
NO, FORTUNATELY I WASN'T -- 
>> Jimmy: YOU WOULD HAVE PLAYED 
TEN OVERTIMES IF IT CAME DOWN TO
IT, WOULD YOU NOT?
>> NO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> Jimmy: YOU'RE NO DUMMY.
>> HEY, MY MENTALITY UPSIDE MY 
HEAD.
>> Jimmy: I SAW YOU DID AN 
INTERVIEW AND YOU'RE TALKING, 
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE KIND OF GOOFING
AROUND, BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
SHAQ AND YOU WERE SAYING -- 
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SHAQ, WHO 
WAS NOT QUITE AS DRIVEN AS 
YOU -- NO ONE'S AS DRIVEN AS YOU
ARE.
BUT YOU INSINUATED THAT IF SHAQ 
KEPT HIMSELF IN BETTER SHAPE YOU
WOULD HAVE EVEN MORE RINGS THAN 
YOU HAVE ALREADY.
>> RIGHT.
>> Jimmy: AND SHAQ TOOK -- DID 
HE TAKE OFFENSE TO THAT?
>> YEAH, I THINK HE DID.
[ LAUGHTER ]
A LITTLE BIT.
BUT HERE'S THE THING, THOUGH.
LIKE IT WAS REALLY A COMPLIMENT.
LIKE PEOPLE MISSED THE WHOLE 
FIRST HALF OF THAT.
IN WHICH I SAID HE WAS THE MOST 
DOMINANT PLAYER I'VE EVER SEEN.
AND I FELT LIKE HE COULD HAVE 
BEEN THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME.
SO PEOPLE KIND OF MISS THAT PART
OF IT.
THEY CAUGHT ON TO THE LAZY PART.
THAT WAS LIKE -- I SAID THAT 
TONGUE IN CHEEK.
WE WEREN'T GOING TO WIN 12 
RINGS.
BUT IT'S ALL GOOD.
>> Jimmy: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER 
THAT?
DO YOU GO OH BOY, I BETTER CALL 
HIM?
OR DOES HE CALL YOU?
HOW DOES IT WORK?
>> NO.
I REACH OUT TO HIM.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW, HE'S MORE 
SENSITIVE THAN I AM.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> Jimmy: DID YOU TEXT HIM?
>> I DID.
>> Jimmy: WHAT DID YOU SAY IN 
THE TEXT?
LIKE HEY, HA, HA, HA, HA?
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> HEY.
I SAID LISTEN, NO HARD FEELINGS?
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> Jimmy: IT'S EASY FOR YOU TO 
SAY NO HARD FEELINGS.
YOU'RE THE ONE WHO INSULTED HIM.
>> WELL, DID I, THOUGH?
I DON'T KNOW.
>> Jimmy: YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD 
HAVE TEXTED "YOU UP?"
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> I'M GOING TO WORK OUT RIGHT 
NOW.
YOU WANT TO JOIN IN?
BUT WHAT I DID SAY IS I SAID 
I'LL BE TUNING IN TO YOUR SON 
PLAYING AT UCLA THIS YEAR.
YOU BETTER SHOOT THE DAMN BALL 
30 TIMES.
I BETTER NOT SEE HIM PASS ONCE.
>> Jimmy: AND HE POSTED 
PHOTOGRAPHS OF HIMSELF LIKE 
DUNKING ON 12 GUYS.
HE'S LIKE DOES THIS LOOK LAZY?
THINGS ARE GOOD.
THINGS ARE OKAY BETWEEN YOU 
AGAIN?
>> YEAH, YEAH.
>> Jimmy: DO YOU GUYS EVER HANG 
OUT TOGETHER?
>> I DON'T HAVE TIME.
NEITHER DOES HE.
>> Jimmy: TACO TUESDAY.
HAVE YOU BEEN TO TACO TUESDAY?
>> I HAVE NOT.
>> Jimmy: YOU HAVE NOT.
>> WELL, I'VE BEEN LIVING IN 
L.A. FOR LIKE 20 YEARS.
I'M MARRIED TO A LATINA.
>> Jimmy: YOU'VE BEEN TO YOUR 
OWN TACO TUESDAY.
LeBRON'S TACO TUESDAY THAT HE 
LOSES HIS MIND OVER EVERY WEEK.
EVERY WEEK IT'S LIKE A HOLIDAY 
HAS HAPPENED.
>> I MEAN, LISTEN, EVERYBODY HAS
THEIR THING, BRO.
>> Jimmy: I'M FINE WITH TACO 
TUESDAY.
>> THAT'S GOING TO GET HIM 
GOING, IT GETS HIM GOING.
IT'S AWESOME.
>> Jimmy: DO YOU TAKE ANY ROLE 
IN ENCOURAGING GUYS LIKE LeBRON,
YOU KNOW, LAKERS FREE AGENTS, TO
COME TO LOS ANGELES?
OTHER THAN MAYBE A TWEET OR 
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> NO.
NO, NO.
I STAY AWAY FROM IT.
I'M REAL CLOSE WITH ROB 
OBVIOUSLY.
>> Jimmy: ROB PAULINCA.
>> WE TALK AS A SOUNDING BOARD.
>> Jimmy: WOULD YOU BE FINE OR 
WOULD HE BE FIRED TO DO 
SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>> I COULD DO THAT.
>> Jimmy: YOU COULD BE HIS 
SURROGATE AND YOU COULD ACTUALLY
REACH OUT TO -- 
>> I COULD BUT I WON'T.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> Jimmy: YOU WON'T.
>> NO.
>> Jimmy: WHY WON'T YOU?
>> WELL, I STAY AWAY FROM THAT 
STUFF.
AND LIKE ROB IS -- HE'S MORE 
THAN CAPABLE OF HANDLING THE 
JOB.
AND ALL THE PRESSURE THAT COMES 
ALONG WITH THAT.
AND I'M QUICK TO TELL HIM, 
LISTEN, MAN, YOU'RE MY GUY, BUT 
YOU DIDN'T GET OUT ON THE COURT 
AND SCORE 40 POINTS FOR ME 
EITHER.
I'M NOT GOING TO DO YOUR JOB FOR
YOU.
>> Jimmy: DOES HE SAY I WOULD 
HAVE IF I COULD?
>> NO, MAN.
WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP.
SO WE'LL TALK AND STUFF.
AND YOU KNOW, JUST AS FRIENDS.
BUT NOTHING SERIOUS.
>> Jimmy: WERE YOU SURPRISED 
THAT KAWHI LEONARD CHOSE THE 
CLIPPERS OVER THE LAKERS?
>> SURE.
>> Jimmy: YOU WERE, YEAH.
>> SURE.
>> Jimmy: YOU THOUGHT HE WAS 
GOING TO GO TO THE LAKERS.
>> SURE.
>> Jimmy: WHO WILL GO FARTHER IN
THE PLAYOFFS?
THE LAKERS OR THE CLIPPERS THIS 
SEASON?
>> UH.
IT DEPENDS.
AND I SAY THAT NOT TO BE KIND OF
CHEEKY ABOUT IT.
BUT LIKE INJURIES HAS PLAYED 
SUCH A HUGE PART.
>> Jimmy: LET'S SAY BOTH TEAMS 
ARE BEAUTIFULLY HEALTHY FROM 
HERE ON OUT.
>> A LOT OF IFS.
>> Jimmy: YEAH, A LOT OF IFS.
YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE INS GOT HURT 
BUT LET'S SAY -- 
>> IS HOUSTON HEALTHY AS WELL?
GOLDEN STATE HEALTHY AS WELL?
>> Jimmy: WE'RE JUST GOING L.A. 
TEAMS.
THAT L.A. RIVALRY.
WHO GOES FARTHER?
>> I CAN'T SAY BECAUSE WHAT IF 
THEY'RE PLAYING AN INJURED 
HOUSTON ROCKETS TEAM AND JAMES 
CAN'T PLAY?
OR WHAT IF THEY'RE PLAYING, YOU 
KNOW, AN INJURED GOLDEN STATE 
TEAM?
>> Jimmy: CAN'T YOU JUST PLAY 
ALONG WITH MY GAME?
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> NO.
NO, I CANNOT.
I CANNOT.
THERE'S TOO MANY VARIABLES, MY 
MAN.
LIKE I'VE GOT TO KIND OF THINK 
THROUGH THIS THING.
>> Jimmy: THINKING IS OVERRATED,
KOBE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> Jimmy: WE HAD A LOT OF FUN, 
AND WE'VE GOT MUCH MORE WITH 
KOBE TO SHARE.
AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO 
REMEMBER KOBE IN A PHILANTHROPIC
WAY, PLEASE MAKE A DONATION TO 
KVBFF.ORG, THE KOBE AND VANESSA 
BRYANT FAMILY FOUNDATION.
HELP THEM HELP KIDS HERE IN LOS 
ANGELES AND ALL OVER THE WORLD.
WHEN WE RETURN, WE WILL SEE KOBE
AND HIS LAKERS TEAMMATES JUST 
AFTER THEY WON HIS FOURTH NBA 
TITLE BACK IN 2009.
>>> PLAY CENTER?
>> NO, GUARD.
>> GUARD?
>> YES.
>> THAT'S SURPRISING P P I 
THOUGHT A MAN OF YOUR SIZE WOULD
PLAY CENTER.
>> WELL, I PLAY WITH MEXICAN 
GUYS.
GOOD LUCK.
YOU'RE GOING TO WIN THE 
CHAMPIONSHIP.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU HIGH FIVE 
MEXICAN.
>> OKAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, KOBE BRYANT.
GOOD LUCK.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAN.
>> Jimmy: KOBE AND THE LAKERS 
WENT ON TO WIN THE FINALS IN 
FIVE GAMES AFTER THAT MEXICAN 
HIGH FIVE.
VERY WELL DONE, GUILLERMO.
TONIGHT WE'RE REMEMBERING
KOBE BRYANT, WHO ALWAYS MADE 
TIME FOR US HERE.
TWO OF THOSE TIMES WERE RIGHT 
AFTER THE LAKERS WON THE NBA 
TITLE.
THIS ONE WAS IN 2009, AND I LOVE
THIS INTERVIEW BECAUSE EVEN 
THOUGH HE WAS VERY SERIOUS ON 
THE COURT YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH 
FUN KOBE AND HIS TEAMMATES HAD 
OFF OF IT TOO.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
♪
JR
>> Jimmy: THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL 
TROPHY.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
[ CROWD CHANTING "MVP" ]
THERE YOU GO.
>> I FEEL LIKE WE'RE BACK AT 
STAPLES CENTER.
>> Jimmy: WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE
TO BE THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN
MVP OF THE NBA?
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> WELL, IT'S A TREMENDOUS 
HONOR.
>> Jimmy: WELL, CONGRATULATIONS,
GUYS.
ALL OF YOU.
THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL TROPHY.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
I'D LIKE TO SEE ONE OF YOU WELD 
THAT ONTO THE FRONT OF YOUR CAR.
YOU KNOW, AS A HOOD ORNAMENT.
>> THAT'S A GOOD IDEA, ACTUALLY.
>> Jimmy: DRIVING AROUND L.A. 
WITH THAT.
DO YOU GET TO LIKE BRING THAT 
AROUND LIKE THE STANLEY CUP OR 
DOES IT GO BACK TO HEADQUARTERS?
>> NO, IT GOES BACK TO 
HEADQUARTERS.
>> Jimmy: IT DOES, HUH?
>> YEAH.
>> Jimmy: IT SEEMS LIKE YOU 
SHOULD GET AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE
FOR YOURSELF.
NO?
>> THEY DO LIKE MINI VERSIONS OF
IT, RIGHT?
>> YEAH, SMALL JOINTS.
>> WE GET SMALL ONES.
>> THEY DON'T OFFER THEM, 
THOUGH.
WE HAVE TO PURCHASE THEM.
>> Jimmy: YOU DO?
REALLY?
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> REALLY?
>> YEAH.
>> WELL, MAYBE YOU WOULDN'T.
YOU GOT ONE WHEN YOU LEFT ARENA.
>> Jimmy: WELL, WE'LL TAKE UP A 
COLLECTION.
YOU GUYS DESERVE IT, CERTAINLY.
IT WAS A GREAT -- WELL, THE 
FINALS WEREN'T SO -- IT WAS 
GREAT FOR YOU GUYS.
IT WASN'T SO GREAT FOR THE 
ORLANDO MAGIC.
PRESIDENT OBAMA PREDICTED YOU'D 
WIN IN SIX GAMES.
>> RIGHT.
>> Jimmy: YOU WON IN FIVE GAMES.
DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU 
DISAPPOINTED HIM?
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> NO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> Jimmy: NO, YOU DON'T.
>> AS LONG AS THE OUTCOME 
REMAINED CONSISTENT IT'S ALL 
GOOD.
>> Jimmy: IT'S A FUNNY THING.
WHEN OBAMA MAKES A PREDICTION 
THE OTHER TEAM'S COACH ALWAYS 
GETS MAD AND SAYS HE SHOULD HAVE
BETTER THINGS TO BE 
CONCENTRATING ON THAN WHO'S 
GOING TO WIN THE GAME.
BUT WERE YOU GUYS EXCITED?
OBAMAS ALMOST ALWAYS RIGHT.
HE 3IKD THE STEELERS IN THE 
SUPER BOWL.
HE'S REALLY -- HE COULD BE A 
HANDICAPPER IF HE WASN'T THE 
PRESIDENT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> HE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES.
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?
>> Jimmy: I GUESS SO.
NOW, DEREK, YOU OFF THE RECORD 
SAID YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN NAMED 
MVP.
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
YOU SAID YOU'D BEEN CARRYING 
KOBE TOO LONG.
[ LAUGHTER ]
LET'S LOOK AT THOSE THREE-POINT 
SHOTS IN I THINK GAME 4.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> PUTS UP THE THREE.
[ CHEERS AN
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> THERE'S MORE.
THIS GUY RIGHT HERE HAS A PAIR 
OF THE BIGGEST COJONES WHEN IT 
COMES TO SHOOTING BIG SHOTS, 
MAN.
IT'S RIDICULOUS.
>> Jimmy: YOU WOULD THINK SO 
BECAUSE YOU MISSED FIVE 
THREE-POINTERS.
YOU WERE 0 FOR 5 SO FAR.
DO YOU HESITATE AT ALL AFTER -- 
>> NO.
THANKS FOR BRINGING UP THE BAD 
PART, JIMMY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> Jimmy: BUT IN A WAY IT'S THE 
GOOD PART.
BECAUSE IF I WENT 0 FOR 5 -- 
WELL, I WOULD GO 0 FOR 8 TO BE 
HONEST.
BUT IF I MISSED FIVE IN A ROW I 
THINK I'D JUST SAY HEY, SOMEBODY
ELSE, YOU GET A CHANCE.
>> YEAH.
NO, NO.
THESE GUYS RIGHT HERE, MAN, AND 
THE GUYS THAT WILL BE OUT LATER.
THEY'RE ALWAYS WITH ME.
YOU KNOW, SO I'M ALWAYS 
CONFIDENT NO MATTER WHAT'S GOING
ON.
I KNOW I'M GOING TO COME THROUGH
FOR MY GUYS.
THEY'VE COME THROUGH FOR ME SO 
MANY TIMES.
>> Jimmy: PAU, YOU ARE FROM 
SPAIN.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW WHAT?
SOMETHING THAT'S BOTHERING ME.
YOUR NAME IS LIKE A BATMAN SOUND
EFFECT.
POW.
[ LAUGHTER ]
I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU.
I GOT YOU A LETTER L.
YOU PUT IT AT THE END OF YOUR 
NAME.
AND YOU'LL BE PAUL FROM NOW ON.
AND I THINK IT WILL MAKE IT 
EASIER FOR US AS AMERICANS.
>> IT KEEPS IT UNIQUE.
I LIKE THE UNIQUENESS.
>> Jimmy: YOU LIKE THE 
UNIQUENESS?
>> WE'VE GOT TO CLARIFY 
SOMETHING, THOUGH.
BECAUSE HE WON'T SAY IT.
OKAY?
HIS NAME IS PAU.
HIS NAME IS NOT PAUL.
IT'S PAU.
THANK YOU.
EVERYBODY SAYS PAUL.
>> Jimmy: I'M SAYING IF YOU JUST
TAKE THIS L HE CAN BE PAUL.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> IT MAKES IT A LOT EASIER, 
THOUGH.
>> I LIKE IT WITHOUT THE L.
>> PAUL GASOL?
>> Jimmy: PAUL GASOL.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET BACK 
TO SPAIN?
WILL THERE BE A PARADE FOR YOU?
DID EVERYBODY WATCH THE -- 
>> THEY DID WATCH.
I'M SO PROUD OF EVERYONE IN 
SPAIN BECAUSE WITH THE TIME 
CHANGE IT'S SO HARD, 3:00, 4:00 
IN THE MORNING WAKE UP AND WATCH
THE GAME AND WATCH US PLAY.
THEY WERE SO EXCITED AND SO 
THRILLED WE WERE ABLE TO GET 
THIS AMAZING TROPHY.
>> Jimmy: WILL WOMEN THERE BE 
ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT MAKING LOVE 
TO YOU WHEN YOU GET BACK?
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> I'M NOT QUITE SURE.
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, 
JIMMY.
>> I'M NOT QUITE SURE ABOUT 
THAT.
>> Jimmy: YOU'RE NOT SURE.
THERE'S A WAY TO FIND OUT.
AND TREVOR, YOU PLAYED FOR THE 
ORLANDO MAGIC.
>> I DID.
>> Jimmy: DOES IT MAKE IT MORE 
FUN TO BEAT THEM SINCE THESE ARE
THE GUYS YOU PLAYED WITH OR IS 
IT -- 
>> MAN.
>> Jimmy: -- LESS FUN?
>> COME ON, TREVOR.
>> MAN, TO BEAT THEM, ESPECIALLY
ON THEIR HOME FLOOR, WAS AN 
UNDESCRIBABLE FEELING.
>> Jimmy: REALLY?
>> YEAH.
THAT WAS THE TEAM THAT TRADED ME
AWAY.
YOU KNOW.
SO TO COME HOME AND BEAT THEM --
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> Jimmy: I WANT TO SHOW ONE 
OTHER KEY PLAY FROM THAT SAME 
GAME.
I THINK IT'S FROM GAME 4 HERE.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK.
>> WHAT IS THAT?
WHAT IS HE DOING?
NO, REALLY.
WHAT IS HE DOING?
>> EXERCISING.
>> WHAT IS HE DOING?
>> Jimmy: KOBE AND THE LAKERS 
WON THE TITLE AGAIN THE NEXT 
YEAR, BEATING THEIR ARCH-RIVALS 
THE BOSTON CELTICS.
AND THAT ONE WAS ESPECIALLY 
SWEET.
AND WE WILL HAVE THAT INTERVIEW 
FROM 2010 WHEN WE COME BACK.
>>> YOU PLAYED WITH DENNIS 
RODMAN FOR A SHORT TIME.
DO YOU THINK HE IS THE SOLUTION 
TO OUR PROBLEM WITH NORTH KOREA?
[ LAUGHTER ]
DO YOU THINK HE IS THE GUY TO GO
OVER THERE AND -- 
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S A CRAZY WORLD,
MAN.
YOU NEVER KNOW.
[ LAUGHTER ]
WHO THE HELL KNOWS?
>> Jimmy: WOULD YOU GO OVER 
THERE AND FOCUS ON STOPPING THIS
POTENTIAL NUCLEAR WARHEAD THAT'S
COMING OVER?
THAT SEEMS MORE IMPORTANT THAN 
THE GAME.
>> YEAH, I'D PROBABLY PASS.
>> Jimmy: WOULD YOU PASS ON THAT
ONE?
OH, FOR ONCE YOU'RE PASSING.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> YEAH.
>> Jimmy: WE HAD A LOT OF LAUGHS
OVER KOBE'S MANY APPEARANCES ON 
OUR SHOW.
THIS INTERVIEW IS FROM 2010 WHEN
THE LAKERS AVENGED THEIR LOSS 
TWO YEARS EARLIER TO THE BOSTON 
CELTICS.
AND KOBE AND HIS TEAMMATES WERE 
IN VERY, VERY GOOD SPIRITS IN 
THE HOURS BEFORE THE VICTORY 
PARADE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
♪ 
>> Jimmy: IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU
GUYS HERE.
CONGRATULATIONS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
THANKS FOR COMING.
IT'S REALLY, REALLY GREAT TO 
HAVE YOU GUYS HERE.
THANKS FOR COMING.
WHO STAYED UP THE LATEST LAST 
NIGHT?
JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY.
>> I DON'T KNOW.
>> Jimmy: RON, ARE YOU WEARING 
YOUR EARPIECE?
>> YEAH.
I STILL DIDN'T GO TO SLEEP YET.
YOU STILL HAVEN'T TAKEN A 
SHOWER.
I AIN'T GOING TO LIE.
I NEED A SHOWER BAD.
>> I KNEW I SMELLED SOMETHING.
>> Jimmy: YOU DIDN'T GO TO SLEEP
ALL NIGHT SINCE LAST NIGHT?
>> I MEAN, THESE GUYS PUT ME 
THROUGH SOME TYPE OF EMOTIONAL 
ROLLER COASTER AND HELPED ME GET
MY FIRST RING, AND I JUST CAN'T 
SLEEP.
>> Jimmy: WOW.
THAT IS SOMETHING ELSE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
I'M GOING TO BE TOTALLY HONEST 
WITH YOU.
WHEN RON CAME TO THE TEAM LAST 
YEAR, I THOUGHT OH, NO, THIS IS 
TERRIBLE, IT'S GOING TO SCREW 
EVERYTHING UP.
[ LAUGHTER ]
I SAID RON'S A GREAT PLAYER 
OBVIOUSLY BUT RON'S CRAZY, RON'S
A CRAZY PERSON.
AND THEN SURE ENOUGH I WAS 
WRONG.
AND RON, YOU'VE BEEN -- I MEAN, 
RON, YOU DIDN'T TWITTER -- YOU 
DIDN'T TWEET THROUGH THE WHOLE 
SERIES.
YOU WERE -- 
>> I CAN'T LET KOBE DOWN.
NO, DON'T SAY "AW."
[ LAUGHTER ]
IT'S LIKE -- THAT'S IT.
>> Jimmy: I WANT TO SAY I'M 
SORRY TO HEAR PAU GOT DEPORTED.
[ LAUGHTER ]
I HAD A FEELING THAT WAS GOING 
TO HAPPEN.
KOBE, YOU SAID A COUPLE OF TIMES
DURING THE SERIES, YOU SAID THAT
IT DIDN'T MATTER THAT IT WAS THE
CELTICS, THAT IT WAS A SERIES 
AND IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE.
IN FACT, LET'S SHOW THAT 
VIDEOTAPE.
>> WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO 
BE IN THE GAME 7 IN THE FINALS 
AND ESPECIALLY AGAINST THE 
CELTICS?
>> NO DIFFERENCE TO ME.
I HATE TO BE A BUZZ KILL, BUT 
IT'S NOT.
>> Jimmy: YOU WERE LYING, RIGHT?
THAT WAS A LIE, RIGHT?
>> YEAH.
[ LAUGHTER ]
YOU CAN'T LET THESE GUYS WIN.
LOOK AT THIS GUY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> Jimmy: TWO YEARS AGO -- AND I
KNOW.
I SPOKE TO YOU ABOUT THIS.
YOU WERE VERY UPSET THE CELTICS 
BEAT YOU.
AS A LAKER YOU'VE GOT TO BEAT 
THE CELTICS.
THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING.
AND I KNOW YOU RESPECT THE 
HISTORY OF THE FRANCHISE.
AND YOU WERE -- HONESTLY I WOULD
HAVE BET MY HOUSE, MY CAR, 
EVERYTHING -- MY CHILDREN, ET 
CETERA.
YOU THAT WERE GOING TO WIN.
BECAUSE WHEN WE SPOKE ABOUT IT 
YOU WERE SO SERIOUS AND SO 
INTENSE ABOUT IT.
IT SCARED ME A LITTLE.
>> WE WERE UPSET.
DEREK AND I -- 
>> Jimmy: DEREK DIDN'T CARE AS 
MUCH I DON'T THINK.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> YOU KNOW WHAT?
HE SITS HERE, HE LOOKS SO WELL 
MANNERED AND ALL THIS.
HE'S GOT A QUICKER TEMPER THAN I
DO.
>> Jimmy: FOR REAL?
YOU DO?
I KNOW YOU GAVE MORE THAN ONE 
INSPIRATIONAL SPEECH TO THE TEAM
BEFORE AND DURING GAME 7.
>> YEAH.
DURING GAME 7.
>> Jimmy: WHAT DID YOU SAY?
WHAT DID HE SAY TO THESE GUYS?
>> JUST DRIED TO KEEP REMINDING 
GUYS THAT, I MEAN, WHATEVER 
HAPPENED IN THE GAME SO FAR WE 
CAN'T PLAY ANY WORSE THAN WHAT 
WE'VE BEEN PLAYING.
SO LET'S JUST -- LET'S JUST 
RELAX -- 
>> A VERY DEMOCRATIC WAY TO SAY 
YOU GUYS ARE PLAYING LIKE A 
BUNCH OF IDIOTS.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> Jimmy: WHERE IS ADAM 
MORRISON?
BECAUSE HE WAS IN A SUIT PRETTY 
MUCH THE WHOLE TIME.
AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUNNY 
IF HE CAME OUT IN A UNIFORM FOR 
ONCE.
YOU KNOW?
LFR 
>> ADAM ACTUALLY -- HE'S ONE OF 
OUR FAVORITE TEAMMATES OF ALL 
TIME.
>> Jimmy: HE LOOKS LIKE A '70s 
PORN STAR NOW.
[ LAUGHTER ]
RIGHT?
HE'S GOT A -- HE LOOKS LIKE HE 
STEPS RIGHT OUT OF "BOOGIE 
NIGHTS" OR SOMETHING.
I'M SORRY ADAM DIDN'T COME 
BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE HE -- MAYBE 
NOT ON THE COURT AS MUCH BUT WE 
HAVE A LITTLE VIDEO PRESENTATION
I'D LIKE YOU GUYS TO LOOK AT, 
AND WE HAVE A MONITOR RIGHT 
HERE.
ADAM MORRISON'S CONTRIBUTION TO 
THE NBA FINAL SERIES.
>> OH, MAN.
♪ 
>> ADAM TRIES TO KEEP IT ALIVE.
STOLEN BY BRYANT.
BAD PASS.
THREE!
♪
♪
♪
>> Jimmy: THERE YOU GO.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
EVERYONE PLAYS A PART.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT?
FIRST OF ALL, LET ME JUST SAY 
THAT WAS FUNNY AS HELL.
[ LAUGHTER ]
BUT SECONDLY, LET ME JUST SAY 
THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A 
TESTAMENT TO OUR TEAM.
HONESTLY.
BECAUSE ADAM CAN REALLY PLAY.
NO, LIKE REALLY.
HE CAN REALLY, REALLY GO.
AND FOR HIM TO TAKE A STEP BACK 
AND TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT 
REALLY HELPED US GET TO THAT 
CHAMPIONSHIP LEVEL.
SO, YEAH.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> Jimmy: NOW, THIS IS MY 
FAVORITE MOVE FROM LAST NIGHT.
WE HAVE VIDEOTAPE HERE.
WATCH THIS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> YOU SHOULD SEE HIM BEFORE 
GAMES.
>> Jimmy: IS THAT RIGHT?
>> HOLD ON.
>> THAT'S -- 
>> HIM AND PAU BOTH IN THE 
MIRROR.
[ LAUGHTER ]
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
>> Jimmy: WHEN WE COME BACK, WE 
WILL GO BACK TO 2008, WHEN KOBE 
BROUGHT AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL 
BACK HOME TO LOS ANGELES.
>>> YOU MAY WANT TO CHANGE IT 
OUT.
JUST PUT THAT RIGHT -- 
>> THAT'S SO SWEET.
>> Jimmy: OSCAR DOESN'T HAVE 
ARMS.
THERE YOU GO.
>> Jimmy: KOBE WON AN OSCAR IN 
2018.
HE EARNED FIVE RINGS WITH THE 
LAKERS AND WAS A TWO-TIME 
OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST TONIGHT WE
ARE REMEMBERING OUR MUCH TOO 
BRIEF TIME WITH HIM.
THIS CLIP, WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO 
SEE, IS FROM ONE OF HIS FIRST 
APPEARANCES ON OUR SHOW AFTER HE
LED TEAM U.S., THE REDEEM TEAM 
AS THEY CALLED IT, TO VICTORY AT
THE 2008 SUMMER GAMES.
>> CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Jimmy: WHAT AN EXCITING 
THING.
[ CROWD CHANTING "MVP" ]
>> FEELS GOOD TO BE HOME.
>> Jimmy: IS IT POSSIBLE EVER TO
GET TIRED OF HEARING THAT?
>> NO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> Jimmy: I WOULDN'T THINK SO.
>> NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
>> Jimmy: I THOUGHT YOU WERE 
GOING TO BRING THE GOLD MEDAL.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT I?
ACTUALLY DID.
>> Jimmy: OH, YOU DID?
>> I DID.
I HAVE IT HERE IN MY POCKET.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
IS THERE A DRUM ROLL?
[ DRUM ROLL ]
>> Jimmy: WOW.
LOOK AT THAT.
>> THERE IT IS.
>> Jimmy: NOT BAD.
CAN I HAVE A LOOK AT IT?
WOW.
THAT IS SOMETHING SPECIAL.
I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA 
TO KEEP IT IN YOUR POCKET, 
THOUGH, BECAUSE IT WILL WIND UP 
IN THE HAMPER OR SOMETHING.
>> OH, NO, NO, NO.
>> Jimmy: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 
THIS.
THAT IS REALLY VERY NICE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> SECURITY!
>> Jimmy: AND PRESIDENT BUSH WAS
AT THE -- HE WAS IN THE LOCKER 
ROOM WITH YOU GUYS IT LOOKS LIKE
HERE.
>> OH, YEAH.
>> Jimmy: WHAT WAS HE UP TO 
THERE?
>> NO, HE CAME AND GAVE US HIS 
SUPPORT.
>> Jimmy: DID HE THREATEN YOU 
GUYS?
>> NO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
ONE OF OUR PLAYERS, I'M NOT 
GOING TO NAME NAMES, ASKED HIM 
IF HE HAD ANY FREE GAS CARDS.
>> Jimmy: IS THAT RIGHT?
>> RIGHT.
I WON'T DIME HIM OUT.
>> Jimmy: WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> HE'S JUST BRINGING IT IN WITH
US.
>> Jimmy: EITHER THEY 
REACTIVATED JOHN STOCKTON OR 
THAT SEEMS TO BE THE PRESIDENT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> I DON'T THINK HE HAD ON THE 
LITTLE SHORTS THAT STOCKTON USED
TO.
>> Jimmy: WELL, THAT IS 
SOMETHING ELSE.
HE WAS A CHEERLEADER AT ONE 
TIME.
I GUESS IT'S APPROPRIATE.
HOW OLD ARE YOUR KIDS NOW?
>> 5 AND 2.
>> Jimmy: AND DID THEY GET YOU A
PRESENT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY?
>> YOU KNOW WHAT?
BEFORE THE GOLD MEDAL GAME OUR 
OLDEST DAUGHTER, NATALIA, DREW A
PICTURE OF A GOLD MEDAL.
YOU KNOW, WITH THE RIBBON AND 
SAID GOOD LUCK.
I TOOK IT WITH ME IN THE LOCKER 
ROOM.
I TOOK IT WITH ME IN THE LOCKER 
ROOM BEFORE THE GAME AND PUT IT 
UP AGAINST THE WALL AND 
EVERYBODY CAME AND TOOK A LOOK 
AT IT.
>> Jimmy: YOU'D HATE FOR HER TO 
BREAK HER CRAYONS OUT AND MAKE 
IT SILVER AFTERWARD.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> THE THING ABOUT KIDS, MAN, IS
THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO 
DISAPPOINT THEM.
BEFORE THE GAME THEY'RING DO THE
NATIONAL ANTHEM.
I LOOK UP IN THE STANDS AND I 
SEE MY WIFE AND OUR DAUGHTERS.
AND THEY'RE LIKE SINGING USA.
THEY HAVE THE FLAG AND 
EVERYTHING.
YOU'RE JUST LOOKING AT THEM AND 
YOU'RE LIKE MAN, I BETTER NOT F 
THIS UP.
[ LAUGHTER ]
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
YOU HEAR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM 
PLAYING YOU CAN'T HELP BUT GET A
LITTLE EMOTIONAL.
>> Jimmy: WELL, WHEN WE COME 
BACK, ONE OF MY FAVORITE 
INTERVIEWS WITH KOBE, ONE IN 
WHICH HE TALKS ABOUT LeBRON, 
COACHING HIS DAUGHTER'S 
BASKETBALL TEAM, AND WHAT HE 
CALLED THE MAMBA MENTALITY.
>> Jimmy: TONIGHT WE ARE LOOKING
BACK AT MOMENTS WE SHARED WITH 
KOBE BRYANT, ONE OF THE GREATEST
PLAYERS IN THE HISTORY OF THE 
NBA.
AND KOBE WAS A BASKETBALL 
PLAYER.
HE WAS AN AUTHOR TOO.
KOBE WAS IN RELENTLESS PURSUIT 
OF PERFECTION.
IN THIS CONVERSATION FROM 2018 
WE TALKED ABOUT MANY THINGS.
HIS DAUGHTERS, LeBRON, HIS BOOK 
"THE MAMBA MENTALITY."
AND I THINK THIS CLIP DOES A 
VERY GOOD JOB OF ILLUSTRATING 
KOBE'S NEVER RESTING COMMITMENT 
TO BEING THE BEST HE COULD 
POSSIBLY BE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> Jimmy: HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> I'M GREAT.
>> Jimmy: EVERYBODY'S EXCITED TO
SEE YOU.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
THAT'S GOT TO BE -- WELL, YOU'RE
BELOVED.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Jimmy: HOW ARE YOU DOING?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT?
>> EVERYTHING'S GOOD, MAN.
>> Jimmy: ENJOYING RETIREMENT?
IS IT FUN?
>> I'M ENJOYING RETIREMENT.
>> Jimmy: I KNOW YOU'RE DOING A 
LOT OF OTHER THINGS.
>> YEAH.
BUT IT'S FUN.
>> Jimmy: DO YOU WATCH THE 
LAKERS?
HAVE YOU BEEN SITTING AND 
WATCHING THE GAMES?
>> I WATCHED THE LAST EIGHT 
MINUTES OF THE FOURTH QUARTER 
AND OVERTIME LAST NIGHT.
MY TEAM, MY GIRLS, WE PRACTICE 
EVERY NIGHT WITH MY TEAM.
SO I DON'T GET A CHANCE TO WATCH
THE GAME -- 
>> Jimmy: YEAH, YOU'RE COACHING.
>> I AM COACHING.
>> Jimmy: HOW MANY GAMES IN A 
ROW WOULD THE LAKERS HAVE TO 
LOSE FOR YOU TO UNRETIRE, FOR 
YOU TO COME BACK TO THE TEAM?
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
IT WOULD BE LIKE -- I MEAN, IF 
IT GOT TO LIKE -- 
>> Jimmy: IF IT GOT TO 20, YOU 
WOULD THINK ABOUT IT, RIGHT?
>> IF THEY GO 0-5 I'LL THINK 
ABOUT IT.
>> Jimmy: YOU'LL THINK ABOUT IT.
>> NO, I WON'T.
>> Jimmy: LeBRON MAY TANK THOSE 
GAMES JUST TO GET YOU ON THE 
COURT.
HOW INVOLVED WERE YOU IN LeBRON 
COMING TO L.A.?
DID YOU SPEAK TO HIM?
>> NO, I DIDN'T SPEAK TO HIM 
ABOUT COMING TO L.A.
BUT I SPEAK TO JEANIE AND -- 
>> Jimmy: TO JEANIE BUSS.
>> JEANIE BUSS.
>> Jimmy: THE OWNER OF THE TEAM.
>> SHE WANTED TO GET LeBRON 
HERE.
BUT LeBRON'S NOT GOING TO COME 
HERE IF MANAGEMENT ISN'T FIGURED
OUT.
>> Jimmy: GOT YOU.
>> YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT 
MANAGEMENT, YOU HAVE TO MAKE 
SURE THAT THINGS ARE CLEAN, 
THINGS ARE FOCUSED GOING 
FORWARD, IT'S NOT CHAOTIC AS IT 
HAS BEEN IN YEARS PAST.
AND SHE DID THAT.
>> Jimmy: AND NOW YET HERE WE 
ARE.
YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR OWN 
TEAM.
YOU'RE COACHING YOUR DAUGHTER'S 
TEAM.
>> I AM.
THEY'RE DOING WELL, THOUGH.
WE'VE BEEN PLAYING FOR LIKE A 
YEAR AND A HALF.
>> Jimmy: WHAT'S THEIR RECORD?
>> THEY DON'T HAVE SEASONS.
IT'S CRAZY.
THEY JUST HAVE TOURNAMENTS.
LIKE EVERY WEEKEND.
>> Jimmy: I SEE.
AND IF THEY DON'T WIN THE 
TOURNAMENTS DO YOU LIKE -- DO 
THEY HAVE TO SLEEP IN THE YARD 
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> NO FOOD FOR A WEEK.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> Jimmy: BECAUSE IF ANYONE, 
ANYONE WOULD THINK LIKE THAT I 
WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE THE 
MAMBA MENTALITY.
>> RUNNING FOR TWO HOURS 
STRAIGHT IN PRACTICE.
NO WATER BREAKS.
NOTHING.
PUSH-UPS AND SIT-UPS ALL DAY.
>> Jimmy: HOW SERIOUS DO YOU 
GET?
ARE YOU GUYS BREAKING DOWN GAME 
FILM?
>> NOT YET, BUT WE WILL.
WE ABSOLUTELY WILL.
WE TRY TO TEACH THE KIDS WHAT 
EXCELLENCE LOOKS LIKE.
IT'S NOT THAT -- YOU KNOW, SOME 
OF THEM MAY WANT TO PLAY IN THE 
WNBA.
SOME OF THEM MAY NOT.
>> Jimmy: RIGHT.
>> BUT WE TRY TO GIVE THEM A 
FOUNDATION OF THE AMOUNT OF WORK
AND PREPARATION THAT IT TAKES TO
BE EXCELLENT.
IN WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU 
CHOOSE TO DO.
WE'RE HERE PLAYING BASKETBALL, 
WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THE 
DETAILS, WE'RE GOING TO LEARNT 
BASICS, WE'RE GOING TO LEARN THE
FUNDAMENTALS.
WE'RE GOING TO DO THOSE THINGS 
OVER AND OVER.
AND HOPEFULLY IT'S SOMETHING 
THEY CAN APPLY TO OTHER AREAS IN
THEIR LIFE.
>> Jimmy: DO YOU THINK YOUR 
DAUGHTER MIGHT WANT TO PLAY IN 
THE WNBA?
>> SHE DOES FOR SURE.
>> Jimmy: SHE DOES?
>> THIS KID, MAN.
>> Jimmy: WOULDN'T THAT BE 
GREAT?
>> DUDE, MAN.
I'M TELLING YOU.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
THE BEST THING THAT HAPPENS IS 
WHEN WE GO OUT AND FANS WILL 
COME UP TO ME AND SHE'LL BE 
STANDING NEXT TO ME AND THEY'LL 
BE LIKE, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A 
BOY.
YOU AND V GOT TO HAVE A BOY, 
MAN.
BE?
TO CARRY ON YOUR TRADITION, THE 
LEGACY.
SHE'S LIKE, "OY.
I GOT THIS."
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
THAT'S RIGHT.
YES, YOU DO.
YOU GOT THIS.
>> Jimmy: HOW OLD ARE THE KIDS 
NOW?
>> 15, 12, AND OUR LITTLE ONE 
BIANKA, WILL BE 2.
>> Jimmy: DO YOU GUYS HAVE 
HALLOWEEN COSTUMES FIGURED OUT?
>> THEY'VE GOT MINE FIGURED OUT.
I NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
THEY JUST TELL ME THIS IS WHAT 
YOU'RE WEARING.
I'M PUTTING THIS ON.
>> Jimmy: WILL YOU TRICK OR 
TREAT?
>> WE GO TRICK OR TREATING EVERY
HALLOWEEN.
>> Jimmy: SO YOU'RE IN A 
COSTUME.
WHAT WERE YOU LAST YEAR?
>> LAST YEAR WE WERE A LEAGUE OF
THEIR OWN.
SO I WAS THE BLACK TOM HANKS.
[ LAUGHTER ]
NO CRYING IN BASEBALL.
SHE'S CRYING, SIR.
>> Jimmy: I WENT THROUGH THE 
BOOK.
BOY.
I WAS JUST PLANNING TO KIND OF 
FLIP THROUGH IT BEFORE YOU CAME 
ON, AND I GOT REALLY INVESTED IN
IT.
>> THAT'S GOOD.
>> Jimmy: BECAUSE YOU GO 
THROUGH -- WELL, FIRST OF ALL, 
YOU'RE A LUNATIC.
>> 100%.
>> Jimmy: THERE'S NO TWO WAYS 
ABOUT IT.
>> 100%.
>> Jimmy: YOU ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT 
YOUR PREPARATION AND ALL THESE 
THINGS YOU DO.
BUT WHEN YOU READ THE SPECIFICS 
IT'S LIKE OH, MY GOD, THIS IS A 
MENTAL PATIENT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> IT'S TRUE.
IT'S TRUE.
>> Jimmy: YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT.
WERE YOU ALWAYS AWARE OF THAT?
>> I AM SELF-AWARE OF MY LUNACY,
YES.
>> Jimmy: ONE OF THE THINGS I 
THOUGHT WAS MOST INTERESTING IN 
THE BOOK IS THAT YOU READ -- AND
THIS GOES BACK TO THE LUNATIC 
THING.
YOU READ THE REFEREE'S OFFICIAL 
HANDBOOK TO FIND OUT WHERE THE 
REFEREES ARE ON THE COURT -- 
EXPLAIN THIS IDEA.
>> THERE'S A RULEBOOK AND THE 
OFFICIALS HAVE TO BE IN CERTAIN 
POSITIONS.
SO IF YOU WATCH A GAME YOU'LL 
SEE OFFICIALS SLIDING IN 
DIFFERENT AREAS.
YOU HAVE YOUR SLOT OFFICIAL AND 
SO FORTH AND SO ON.
SO I READ IT TO UNDERSTAND WHERE
THEY NEED TO BE IN CERTAIN 
MOMENTS IN TIME SO IF I NEED TO 
GET AWAY WITH A FOUL -- 
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
THE SLOT OFFICIAL'S NOT GOING TO
SEE THIS LITTLE HOLD HERE.
>> Jimmy: HAS ANY PLAYER THAT 
YOU KNOW OF EVER DONE THAT 
BEFORE?
>> NOT THAT I KNOW OF.
>> Jimmy: THAT IS INTERESTING.
IN ORDER TO PROTECT -- AND 
CORRECT ME IF I HAVE ANY OF THIS
WRONG.
IN ORDER TO PROTECT YOUR ANKLES,
YOU LEARNED TO TAP DANCE.
>> I DID.
>> Jimmy: WHY DIDN'T WE KNOW 
THIS?
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> WELL, IT WAS KEPT SECRET FOR 
OBVIOUS REASONS.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> Jimmy: DO THEY MAKE TAP SHOES
IN YOUR SIZE?
>> I HAD TO GET THEM MADE.
>> Jimmy: HAD TO GET THEM MADE.
>> I CAN'T GO TO THE STORE AND 
BE LIKE, YEAH, I'LL TAKE THOSE 
SIZE 14s TAP.
>> Jimmy: YOU CAN'T CALL NIKE 
AND SAY DO YOU GUYS HAVE TAP 
SHOES.
SO ARE YOU AN ACCOMPLISHED 
TAPPER?
DO YOU KNOW HOW TO TAP?
YOU'RE NOT.
>> NO.
BUT ONE SUMMER -- FOR A YEAR 
THERE, YEAH.
I COULD TELL MY FEET TO DO THIS 
AND THEY WOULD ACTUALLY DO THAT.
>> Jimmy: RIGHT.
YOU DON'T EVER DO IT ANYMORE?
>> NO, I DON'T.
I DON'T.
MY FIRST CLASS, THOUGH, I WALKED
INTO THE STUDIO.
IT'S ALL THESE LIKE 6-YEAR-OLDS,
7-YEAR-OLDS.
>> Jimmy: REALLY?
>> STRAIGHT UP, MAN.
STUDIO IN SANTA MONICA.
AND THESE KIDS ARE LOOKING AT ME
LIKE WHAT?
NO WAY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
WHAT'S THIS GROWN-ASS MAN DOING 
IN HERE LEARNING TAP DANCE?
>> Jimmy: WOW.
THIS IS -- TAP DANCING.
YOU NEVER -- YOU WANT TO DO A 
LITTLE TAP DANCE?
CAN YOU SHOW US A LITTLE?
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> IF I COULD I WOULD.
>> Jimmy: WE'LL TAKE A BREAK.
GO GET COACHED -- GUILLERMO, GO 
GET A GIANT PAIR OF TAP SHOES.
[ CROWD CHANTING "KOBE" ]
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
>> Jimmy: THANK YOU FOR JOINING 
US TONIGHT ON THIS SAD NIGHT.
I WISH IT HAD BEEN UNDER HAPPIER
CIRCUMSTANCES.
MAGIC JOHNSON WILL BE WITH US 
TOMORROW NIGHT ON THE SHOW.
AND AGAIN, IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE
A DONATION TO THE KOBE AND 
VANESSA BRYANT FAMILY 
FOUNDATION, YOU CAN DO IT AT THE
ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.
WE PRAY FOR EVERYONE WHO WAS 
LOST YESTERDAY AND THOSE THEY 
LEFT BEHIND, THE CHILDREN, THEIR
PARENTS, AND KOBE BRYANT, WHO IS
GONE BUT WILL NEVER BE 
FORGOTTEN.
>> KOBE BRYANT, FROM LOWER 
MERION HIGH SCHOOL IN 
PENNSYLVANIA.
♪ 
♪ TALK ABOUT 
♪ TAKE THOSE PICTURES DOWN AND 
SHAKE IT OUT ♪
♪ TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCE 
♪ RACE IT AROUND 
♪ THERE GOES MY HERO 
♪ WATCH HIM AS HE GOES 
♪ THERE GOES MY HERO 
♪ HE'S ORDINARY 
♪ THERE GOES MY HERO 
♪ WATCH HIM AS HE GOES 
♪ THERE GOES MY HERO 
♪ HE'S ORDINARY 
