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Before the start of the 2012-13 season, many people believed Bryant could not mesh his new center Dwight Howard, since the big man was not known for taking criticism lightly. Howard has never had a teammate like Bryant by his side so there was definitely a transitional period for him once being traded to the Lakers.
Kobe sat down with Sports Illustrated for an interview and he talked about his relationship with Howard.
SI: Dwight hasn’t been the happiest of campers. How about your rep for being tough on teammates? Is that part of it?
Bryant: Look, I talk to him all the time. In his ear all the time, not so much now but early on. Pushing him quite a bit. That’s just how I am.
Although the Lakers struggled earlier in the season, the players seem to be beginning to build some team chemistry. The players are starting to look comfortable in the roles, and as a result the Lakers are closing the gap between them and the eight seed in the Western Conference.
Los Angeles opened the second half of the season with a big win over the Boston Celtics in a game that saw Howard put up 24 points and 12 rebounds, while Bryant scored 16 points and dished out seven assists, and was followed by a win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday.