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Kobe Bryant Explains His Lack of Friendships

When GQ magazine asked basketball star Kobe Bryant if he had any friends Bryant said,

I have "like minds." You know, I've been fortunate to play in Los Angeles, where there are a lot of people like me. Actors. Musicians. Businessmen. Obsessives. People who feel like God put them on earth to do whatever it is that they do. Now, do we have time to build great relationships? Do we have time to build great friendships? No. Do we have time to socialize and to hangout aimlessly? No. Do we want to do that? No. We want to work. I enjoy working.

Then the interviewer asked, "Do you miss the idea of having a great friendship?" and Bryant replied:

Of course. It's not like I'm saying, "I don't need friends because I'm so strong." It's a weakness. When I was growing up in Italy, I grew up in isolation. … I was the only black kid. I didn't speak the language. I'd be in one city, but then we'd move to a different city and I'd have to do everything again. I'd make friends, but I'd never be part of the group, because the other kids were already growing up together. So this is how I grew up, and these are the weaknesses that I have.

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