Blogs.Bulls.com

By Adam Fluck

Kobe Bryant and Derrick Rose spent time together this past September in California doing promotional work for the video game NBA 2K10. For Rose, it was the first chance he had to get up close and personal to one of the NBA’s best.

Following the Lakers’ shootaround at the United Center on Tuesday, Bryant shared a little of the advice he imparted on the Bulls guard.

“Just making sure he stays focused on what got him here,” said Bryant. “There are so many things when you get to this level, people pulling you left and right. You just have to remember what’s important.”

Bryant knows a thing or two about carrying his team year in and year out. He also discussed the pressures on Rose to step up and become more assertive for the Bulls.

“Just do it,” he said of what it takes. “Do the best job you can. Go as hard as you possibly can and practice as hard as you possibly can. Just leave it out there on the floor. That’s all you can ask of yourself at the end of the day. If you’re comfortable going home and looking in the mirror and saying that you played 100 percent every single night, then that’s fine.”

Bryant’s effort certainly cannot be questioned. The 14th year guard broke his index finger last Friday, but has not missed a game since.

“He has the talent to do it,” added Bryant said of Rose. “With him, it’s just going out there and doing it. I think it’s tough for a younger player to have that kind of confidence in himself to be able to do it, but he has all the skills for it.”

Audio—Lakers guard Kobe Bryant on facing the Bulls and Derrick Rose following his team’s shootaround at the United Center (12.15.09):