Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant covers his mouth during a news conference after the Lakers were knocked out of the NBA basketball playoffs in Los Angeles, California, May 11, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Winning belief

"If you're asking me if I believe that we can come back and win it again, I absolutely believe that," the MVP of the last two NBA finals said. "If this team came back as is, I believe we could win."

Wednesday's exit interview was a poignant one for Bryant as his long-time coach Phil Jackson prepared to leave the training base for a final time.

Jackson, an 11-times NBA champion head coach, had to be persuaded to return to the Lakers for one more season and he now plans to retire to his summer home in Montana.

"A lot of people probably don't expect us to continue winning without Phil as head coach," said Bryant, who won NBA championship rings with the Lakers under Jackson in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010.

"That's a challenge right there in of itself."

Bryant was bitterly disappointed Jackson's final campaign in charge had finished prematurely but he preferred to reflect on those many successful seasons.

"I had a chance to spend some time with him before coming down here, and it's sad because of the way it ended," Bryant said. "But still we gotta remember the good old times, last year and how that ended, and the year before that even."

Asked what he had learned most from 'Zen Master' Jackson over the years, Bryant replied: "A lot of things. His philosophy on life is something that I have adopted and that I carry with me.

"He has affected me and impacted my basketball game, how I think about the game and me as a person. I'll miss just talking to him. We always sat next to each other on the plane."