Marc Stein of Espn recently interviewed Kobe Bryant with a few questions about this season, the MVP race, and what he thinks are his teams chances to win it all this year. You can check it out at ESPN.com where it is currently the feature article of the day (or two). Here is the interview:

Q: I know you always say you really don’t give the MVP race any thought, but surely it’s crossed your mind this season. Wouldn’t it mean more to win one than you’re letting on?

A: It’d be extremely special to win one. That puts you in really great company. It would mean a lot to win it, but that’s not my primary goal. My primary goal is to win a championship. I firmly believe that a rising tide raises all boats. So us winning — individual success will come. MVP is not my primary focus.

Q: But does it bug you to be known as the best player who’s never won an MVP trophy?

A: Gotta take the good with the bad. In other words, when Michael [Jordan] and some of the other players, when they came into the league, they came into a situation where they carried the load and were the leader on that ballclub, but they didn’t win. And then once he had another great player [beside him], [Scottie] Pippen had developed … then they started winning.

Myself … I came into the league already on a team that was winning 60 games. So I won early. I developed into a great individual player, but I was already playing with somebody that was dominant. So I never really got those accolades that an individual player would get.

It never bothered me. I kind of looked at it like a special forces job: [someone who] goes in quietly, does what he has to do to help the team be successful, and has players around the league and coaches around the league understand and respect what I do a nightly basis. That’s what kind of kept me motivated.

Q: Safe to say you now are OK with the fact that the Bynum-for-Jason Kidd trade last season didn’t work out?

A: Yeah (laughing). I’m more happy for [Kidd] that he got out of that situation [with the New Jersey Nets]. I think it’s kind of invigorated him with the passion and the kind of joy that you know Jason Kidd likes to play with.

Q: So what was it like together last summer on Team USA? Were you guys constantly talking about how unhappy you were on your regular teams?

A: I was getting ribbed a lot by a lot of my [Team USA] teammates because of the plays Jason was making and how he could have been on my team and how it didn’t go down, that sort of thing. I had to take a lot of jabs this summer. But the [Gasol] trade … it’s been an answer to a prayer, man.

Q: Admit it: Are there times you look over and see Pau in the same locker room and still don’t believe it?

A: We’re extremely fortunate, man. But they pulled it off. Mitch [Kupchak] made a great move, and the young players that he drafted have really developed faster than I think anybody expected. So that’s why we’re in this position.

I love our chances. I love our chances even with the injuries. And if we do get [Bynum] back in the mix, I really like our chances.

A Few More Bonus Questions

On whether Andrew Bynum will play again this season:

“I’m pretty optimistic. In a perfect-case scenario, he’d get five
games under his belt or something like that before the playoffs. But if
it doesn’t happen, we’ll roll with it. In this system, it’s easy for
him to jump back in, go stand down there and not miss a beat.
Especially at that center position, be our defensive anchor, change
shots. It’s not that difficult.”

On fears that Pau Gasol’s left ankle also will wind up being a long-term injury:

“Nah. He’ll shake it. He’s a very quick healer. He’s already walking on it. He’ll be back soon.”

On the torn ligament in Bryant’s pinkie on his shooting hand:

“I’ll always have issues with it until I get the surgery. I still
have to do that. But Phil [Jackson] was pretty much going to give me
training camp off anyway to let my body recuperate after the playoffs
and the Olympics. … This team has been together for so long, I don’t
think that’ll be a problem.”

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