Kobe Bryant says he wants to stay with Los Angeles

Kobe Bryant ended his self-imposed media boycott Friday after giving an impromptu interview to AP in which he explained his extended silence with a short answer: "One thing, I am stubborn."

Bryant's comments, in which he reiterated that he'd prefer to play for the Lakers next season after opting out of his contract, were his first to a member of the print media in 12 days.

The league office -- including commissioner David Stern -- has been pressuring the Lakers to persuade Bryant to end his boycott, which violates the league's media access rules.

An hour after the Lakers' 102-91 loss to the Houston Rockets -- and about 11 hours after speaking to the AP -- Bryant spoke to about 20 media members and said his boycott was over.

"I put it behind me and move on," he said.

Bryant's silence began after Los Angeles media questioned whether he was sending a message to his teammates and coach Phil Jackson when he took only one shot in the first half of a late-season loss at Sacramento. He finished with eight points -- his lowest total ever when he played at least 40 minutes.

One unidentified player told The Los Angeles Times that the team might never forgive Bryant, who has been the subject of criticism during his career for his shot selection and freelancing on offense.

"Some of you guys are really good guys and I really mean that. I have a lot of respect for most of you. Some [others] not much," Bryant said. "But that's in the minority. I think a lot of you guys are good, respectful, work really hard at what you do and the get the facts right. And I really appreciate that."

During his interview with the AP after the team's morning shootaround, Bryant would not answer a follow-up question on his self-described stubbornness and proclivity to hold a grudge, and how those qualities have remained constants during his maturation from a teenage NBA rookie into an eight-year veteran.

"I'm not getting into that man, are you kidding me?" he said.

But Bryant did speak about his upcoming free agency, saying he believes fans in Los Angeles have developed a better understanding of why it makes financial sense for him to opt out of his contract.

"Things have been pretty calm, actually," Bryant said. "The team understands, I'm not worried about that, and I think the people have a better concept of why.

"I think if they understand the business side of it they'll have a firm grasp of it, too -- being able to stay with the Lakers longer if I do opt out, signing a longer extension."

Bryant will be eligible to sign a seven-year deal with the Lakers with 12 percent annual raises, with a starting salary equal to 30 percent of the salary cap. Other teams will only be able to offer a six-year contract with 10 percent annual raises.

Bryant was asked what the chances are that he'll return to the Lakers.

"I don't know, I can't say 100 percent. This is the place I'd rather play."

The Lakers were hoping for a four-game sweep of the Rockets to avoid a potential conflict with the court schedule in Bryant's sexual assault trial in Colorado, where hearings are scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Now that Game 5 is a certainty, Bryant will fly from Colorado to Los Angeles after Wednesday's hearing in time to make a tip-off that could be moved up by a half-hour if the San Antonio-Memphis and New York-New Jersey series both end in four games.