Kobe Bryant is looking ahead and probably not returning this season. That means he will be paid $30 million for 6 games.

Yet Kobe is not happy. He would rather win, but still get paid slightly less. This season is a lost season and the Black Mamba is doing the right thing. In an interview with Power 106, Kobe shared his reflections while promoting his new shoe. As transcribed by Lakers Nation:

Kobe: "This year, we all know it's been a real tough year for us right? So what I'd like everybody to do is to really just sit back and just absorb this year. Take it all in. Sit back and watch and listen and hear all the hate that's being thrown at us and remember every person that's kicking you when you're down because next year it ain't gunna be this way."

Appreciate it now. Let it sit in now, because revenge is sweet and it's quick." 

Q: There's a lot of people that have had a lack of faith in the team and your recovery and all those things, but that's all motivation [for you]?

Kobe: "You've got to appreciate that and enjoy that and use that as fuel as motivation to basically just shut everybody the hell up. It's that challenge, that challenge that drives us all, I think, and definitely keeps me going."

Q: How does it feel to have your 9th signature shoe?

Kobe: "It's a huge honor I'm very fortunate to partner with a great company like Nike that really allows me to push innovation and kind of tell my story through the product."

Q: Nick (Young) thinks he's the swaggiest of the swaggiest. Who's got more swag, you or swaggy?

Kobe: "It really doesn't matter to me. He can wear the 9s and we'll say Kobe night, designed by Swaggy P. I'm cool with that. He can have all the swag he wants to, man. As long as he plays defense makes shots, I don't give a damn."

Q: Clothes are swaggy but rings are swagger...

Kobe: "Hey man listen, it doesn't get more swaggier than that."

There's a possibility that Nick Young does make the team next year. He has made a significant contribution yet other teams will not take interest. Also, he loves playing with the Lakers (after Dwight Howard's departure, we learned that it does not apply with everyone).

The Lakers have options open, but it still starts and ends with the Mamba. His contract pretty much guarantees that.

It is comforting for LA fans that Kobe Bryant still talks about swagger and pride, even revenge. Now they just need to see that demonstrated on the court.

NBA Legend and Lakers institution Jerry West still believes Kobe will be great, but not the same. From ESPN Radio: "You never know what Kobe Bryant's status is going to be next yearWhat kind of player is he going to be? That would be my biggest question because they've banked that he's gonna be the same kind of player. I don't see that. I do see him being great. He's so good individually and he's so competitive that he's always going to be effective."

Fair assessment from the Logo. And he's probably the best at evaluating NBA talent.