Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

Kobe Bryant talked with George Smith about the NBA lockout, LeBron James, and his expectations for the Lakers next year. Check the video after the jump…

“I think people need to lay off that kid. That’s what I think. I’ve gotten to know him pretty well from playing with the Olympic team. I think people need to just back off off him and just let him play, let him live his life. Let him make his decisions. Let him mature as a player. It’s tough to be under the microscope like that all the time. I would like everybody to just kind of back off off him and let him play.”

Click HERE for video – about NBA lockout, LeBron James, and expectations for the Lakers next year