And then there’s his behavior on the court. Bryant is tough on his teammates, some say too tough. If one of the Lakers doesn’t perform up to Bryant’s expectations, he’ll let them know about it with a few well-chosen words, a what-was-that? shoulder shrug or glare.

He’s demanding and driven, not unlike Michael Jordan, the player with whom Bryant is so often — fairly or unfairly — compared.

One man has a unique perspective on the two icons. Phil Jackson coached them both.

The Lakers head honcho, who has won nine NBA titles, said it takes some thick skin to be able to handle a teammate constantly pushing you to do better. But he has no problem with Bryant’s penchant to require perfection from those around him.

“That’s an energy that a lot of players can’t stand up to, but we try to find players that can,” he said. “It’s very challenging and I think it’s very aggressive and I think it’s good. Having lived with it for a period of time with two different types of players, I can endorse it.”

Part of the Lakers’ success, Bryant feels, is that they are brutally honest with each other. He believes his teammates can handle his heat, and don’t take his prodding personally.

“Our relationship is great,” he said. “I think people pay attention to it a lot more than you do when you lose than when you win. When you win it’s great leadership. When you lose, it’s ... you’re a tyrant. You’ve got to take it and roll with it.”

Derek Fisher was Bryant’s teammate for eight seasons before spending two with Golden State and one with Utah. He re-signed with Los Angeles as a free agent last summer. On the eve of what could be the Lakers’ final game of 2008, Fisher was asked if Bryant was a better teammate than before he left.

“Wow,” Fisher said, laughing. “Sounds like everybody is getting their what-happens-if-we-lose stories together, huh? A lot of Kobe questions.”

In Fisher’s eyes, Bryant has grown into a committed team leader and credits his off-the-floor maturity as a father as the primary reason.

“I just think that he’s gotten older, he’s in the 30 club almost now,” Fisher said. “I just think he has a great understanding of who he is and what it takes to be the best.”

And starting with Game 5, the Lakers need Bryant to be better than ever.

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