Kobe Bryant is not playing due to injury, and it was deemed wise to sit him out for a 'lost' Lakers season. He gets to concentrate on his other passions, like creating his signature sneakers.

In an interview with Complex, Kobe talks about his views on art, the creation aspect and his personal favorites. It is clear that the Black Mamba is very conscious of the product that is associated with his name.

There was some controversy with regards to signature shoes at the start of the season when Lebron James would not wear his own Lebron XI during games. This cast doubt on whether the players really have input on the design of the shoes names after them, or they are just paid to use the brand.

Kobe has always been faithful to his sneakers and brandishes them at every possible opportunity. He shows how immersed he is with his own brand in this conversation courtesy of Complex:

"Kobe on art: "Because we're creating, in all facets of life. I think that is the genesis of this concept. We are all creating in our own form or fashion. In basketball, certainly, is something where you are creating a live work of art. Sometimes you may create something that's a masterpiece, sometimes you may create something that is absolutely atrocious. But you can't take it back, that is the ultimate art."

Do you enjoy the creation aspect?
I enjoy the creation aspect. The journey is always much more enjoyable. Like now, the 9 is complete and we're focused on completing the 10.

Lets talk about the Kobe 10. Will it be as dramatic a change as we see from the Kobe 8 to 9?
We just continue to innovate. It always starts with the athlete. You always start with the question of, 'What can help me to be a better basketball player?' You start from that technological standpoint and then you work from their. I have the story already framed up, I know what it is going to be. I know what the aesthetic of the shoe is going to be. The technology in the shoe is going to be absolutely crazy. It's going to be...

We're listening. 
We're just continue to push it. That's what we do. Try to solve problems that athletes may encounter.

Can you talk about your three favorites and why those are your favorites?
It's tough to pick a favorite. They are all symbolic of big moments in my career. I think the one that really turned the most heads in the room was when I told them about the "Misery" shoe. My 2008 shoe. I said I wanted the shoe to look like, just misery. I don't want it to be happy, I want it to be absolutely sad like a vintage sad Picasso painting because it was symbolic of the moment when we lost to the Celtics. I think that story is the one that turned the most heads.

Final question, with all the shoes you've had with Nike, is there a particular shoe that stands out to you?
I think the first shoe that we designed together was the most special one. It was when I first signed with Nike and we did the 2K4. That one, coming off the inspiration of a great white shark and me using that as a muse. On that project, we had Eric Avar, Tinker Hatfield, and Mark Parker. All these minds in one room just jamming on ideas and concepts and the 2K4 was just a revolutionary shoe."