GQ Magazine interviewed Kobe Bryant who explained why he has been a loner all these years.
The Lakers superstar was asked whether his obsessive traits allowed him to enjoy friendships with people.
Bryant answered, "Not really." He said that his personality makes him a very hardworking individual which takes away the consistency he needs to maintain relationships with others.
Bryant said in the GQ interview, "You know, I've been fortunate to play in Los Angeles, where there are a lot of people like me. Actors. Musicians. Businessmen. Obsessives. People who feel like God put them on earth to do whatever it is that they do. Now, do we have time to build great relationships? Do we have time to build great friendships? No. Do we have time to socialize and to hangout aimlessly? No. Do we want to do that? No. We want to work. I enjoy working."
Bryant said, "Does my nature make me less enjoyable to play with? Of course," he says. "Of course it does. Is it possible that some top players in the league are intimidated by that? Yes. But do I want to play with those players? Does the Laker organization want those specific players? No. Magic. Jordan. Bird. We all would have been phenomenal teammates. This organization wants players who will carry this franchise to another five or six championships. The player who does that has to be cut from the same cloth. And if they're not cut from that cloth, they don't belong here."
When asked whether he chose not to have friends, Bryant answered, "Yes and no." He explained that he has friends but he will never be a great friend to anyone. He talked about failing to remember important dates like birthdays. He said that he keeps in touch with friends like LeBron James and Kevin Garnett but he believes he does not have any great bonding friendships. He considers not having any great friend a weakness.
Bryant has gone through difficult relationships with former friends, such as his spat with Karl Malone, according to ESPN. He also admitted that his relationship with Shaquille O'Neal when they were in the Lakers together was not good.
Kobe added that he grew up in isolation in Italy because he was the only black kid. He also did not speak Italian and his family kept on moving from city to city so it was difficult for him to make friends. The way he grew up contributed to his tendency not to be too close with anyone.