After signing the contract extension two more years worth $48.5 million, Kobe Bryant was met with massive backlash on media and social networks.

The criticism stemmed from the size of his salary. There were suggestions (unsolicited) from all fronts that the Black Mamba take a pay cut to enable the Lakers to sign as many as two max level players that are up for grabs in the summer of 2014.

Some of these possible max players are Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Rudy Gay, Luol Deng and Pau Gasol.

The addition of two big names along with him may constitute a new big three which may lead to Kobe Bryant's sixth championship.

Kobe did take a pay cut, but it wasn't enough to enable them to make an offer for 2 max players. It would suffice to get one, though.

In an interview with the LA Times, the criticism has lit a fuse: "It makes me want to run through a wall for them. Kind of just adds more fuel to the fire. Prove to everybody that [the Lakers] are right and everybody else is wrong."

Bryant has mentioned that the contract was offered to him and not negotiated. Lakers GM reinforced that statement, saying the Lakers recognize Bryant's overall contribution to the franchise.

The staunchest critics were actually from Lakers fans. In the same interview: "I think the fans are, God bless them, they're fans and they have good intentions and have a good spirit about it, but I don't think they understand the cap. ... I think we'll be all right."

In another interview with Yahoo Sports before the Lakers' game against the Washington Wizards: "Most of us have aspirations for being businessmen when our playing careers are over. But that starts now. You have to be able to wear both hats. You can't sit up there and say, 'Well, I'm going to take substantially less because there's public pressure, because all of a sudden, if you don't take less, you don't give a crap about winning. That's total bull--."

This statement was in reference to suggestions that he take a veteran minimum salary to accommodate more players for the team.

Bryant is raring for the chance to absolve himself, He is targeting a return in their game against Sacramento on December 6.