In 1998, Kobe Bryant paved the way for the Los Angeles Lakers to become an iconic franchise in China. 21 years later, he was an ambassador for the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Beijing over the summer, and his purple and gold were in the NBA Global Games in Shanghai and Shenzhen this preseason. While in Beijing, Kobe sat down with CloseUp360 for an exclusive interview to discuss his connection to China, role in global basketball and training innovation, emergence as an award-winning storyteller, entrepreneurial leadership and much more—including his thoughts on joining the Hall of Fame possibly next year. “KobeCloseUp” is co-produced by his former Lakers teammate and CloseUp360 advisor Caron Butler.
For more exclusive features with NBA players off the court, check out CloseUp360.
ErickReyKing1
October 22, 2019 at 4:06 pm
this Interview is prior to the #NBA #LeBronJames #SteveKerr been
all WOKE about Social Justice & Freedom,then been
complete COWARDS & HYPOCRITES to the Oppression in #HongKong!!!
every day we Lit Jones
October 25, 2019 at 6:28 pm
Kobe didnt say shit about cuz he didnt want the criticism. That looks like a coward move to me.
Dashing Dreww
October 22, 2019 at 4:32 pm
Should have asked him if Curry is a hall of famer
R
October 22, 2019 at 4:52 pm
Kobe is the biggest nba player in China no doubt
FOM FamilyOverMoney
October 23, 2019 at 12:12 pm
Always will be
Shad 23
October 22, 2019 at 5:00 pm
Just wanna see him have 1 more run at 40 like Jordan did, but he already had his farewell tour, or else it would be nice to see him in the Big 3 league, Kobe a true mentor to the game
$harpshooter24
October 22, 2019 at 5:21 pm
GOAT
FOM FamilyOverMoney
October 23, 2019 at 12:09 pm
🐐
Another View
October 22, 2019 at 5:30 pm
Man, this was great. Something that I took away from this is to always try to do “your thing” well. Whatever it is in life, do it to the best of your ability. You’ll be stronger for it. Opportunities may present themselves that may not have appeared before. Make calculated decisions and seize it.
Daddy Warbucks
October 22, 2019 at 5:42 pm
Chinese use child slave labor and sell 10 dolla jordan to black for 100 dollas!!!
kisswriters
October 22, 2019 at 6:10 pm
Translation: Lebron and Morey are willfully ignorant; but if China cuts off the NBA, they’ll lose their connection to Kobe…
Butterbean
October 25, 2019 at 10:52 pm
Translation, he’s to scared to call out China about their human rights and authoritarian government and instead say Morey and Lebron are ignorant.
kisswriters
October 26, 2019 at 12:13 am
@Butterbean White Americans got a lot of fucking nerve talking about human rights violations abroad when you’ve inflicted centuries of systemic, government-sanctioned abuses upon black Americans right here at home, even to this day. The audacity of you wicked pieces of shit is unbelievable, unfathomable really…
Big Dee
October 22, 2019 at 6:47 pm
Kobe Bryant is black Jesus
every day we Lit Jones
October 25, 2019 at 6:27 pm
No he’s u human his shit stanks like everybody else’s. Its sickening when people look at athletes and celebrities like that.
taylor mccoy
October 22, 2019 at 7:50 pm
Believe it or not kobe is actually smarter than Jordan and makes lebron sound like a freshman in college
FOM FamilyOverMoney
October 23, 2019 at 12:13 pm
He was better on the court too then Jordan bro
M.r. Highlights Del rio
October 23, 2019 at 1:10 pm
@FOM FamilyOverMoney u buggin u obviously dont know basketball lil kid 🤣🤣😂😂 mj the goat
every day we Lit Jones
October 25, 2019 at 6:23 pm
nigga jordan shoes worth a billion dollars😂 and kobe is not a better business man than lebron. That must be the same reason he signed to nike after lebron did and referred to his camp kids as ” his kids” same as lebron do for i promise school kids. Kobe is nothing but a copycat but want everybody to bowdown to him and follow him like he’s trendsetter or something.
Bryan
October 22, 2019 at 8:43 pm
Wait, I thought it was bad to support China?
Erick Laser
October 22, 2019 at 9:17 pm
free Hong Kong!! but wait…$
Rocky Doggy
October 22, 2019 at 9:42 pm
Nothing but respect for Kobe the 🐐
FOM FamilyOverMoney
October 23, 2019 at 12:09 pm
The GOAT!🐐
Lord Davinci
October 22, 2019 at 11:29 pm
The goat
FOM FamilyOverMoney
October 23, 2019 at 12:11 pm
I agree! I’m a former hooper, played in the d league for years. The real know Kobe is the 🐐! Only other person in argument is Jordan
Steven Lu
October 23, 2019 at 1:33 am
Man if Kobe would’ve played instead of Bron tn, we would’ve destroyed the clippers. AD’s stats would’ve mattered
FeedGotcha
October 23, 2019 at 5:12 am
That ring cost more than I’m worth
star fucks
October 23, 2019 at 7:32 am
Nibha is a god to me🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳💪😇🙏
strictly business
October 23, 2019 at 8:17 am
*Kobe is sharp mentally.* Mamba mentality.
S laRock
October 23, 2019 at 8:51 am
Kobe the Kommie 👏🏻 👏🏻
Mihajlo Brankovic
October 23, 2019 at 8:57 am
0:47 parkour
Shawn
October 23, 2019 at 11:52 am
Lol hopefully Kobe helps save the day
Matuudee Game
October 23, 2019 at 12:44 pm
When it comes to the game, he is the most philosophical individual. He lived and breathed Basketball as Bruce Lee lived and breathed Martial Arts. *Master*
Jack R
October 23, 2019 at 2:27 pm
Team Hong Kong
P T
October 23, 2019 at 4:35 pm
Mamba mentality in all aspects of life
Solid Snake
October 25, 2019 at 10:34 pm
i like KoBe more than ever.