Kobe on talk of leaving Lakers: 'I bleed purple and gold'

Kobe Bryant heard Phil Jackson's comments last week about the possibility of the Lakers legend finishing his career outside of Los Angeles, and it sounds like he's having none of it.

"A lot of players want to go to different teams or contend to win championships," Bryant told Yahoo Sports' Marc Spears on Monday. "I'm a Laker, man. I'm a Laker for better or worse."

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Many have assumed that this season - the 20th in Bryant's Hall of Fame career - would be his last since he signed a two-year, $48.5-million extension in 2013. But Jackson hinted last week that it may simply be his last as a Laker.

"I don't think it's his last year," Jackson said. "Sounds like it might be his last year as a Laker."

Bryant again stressed Monday that playing for any other organization than the one that's employed him for the last two decades is far from his mind. "I'm a Laker, man," Bryant told Spears. "How many times do I have to say that? Dude, I bleed purple and gold."

The beginning of a new season will see Bryant once again returning from a serious injury, as he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in January after suffering a season-ending knee injury early in the 2013-14 season and an Achilles injury late in the 2012-13 campaign.

Still, the 37-year-old won't yet acknowledge whether the coming season will be his last.

The Black Mamba enters season No. 20 with over 55,000 career minutes under his belt between the regular season and playoffs, every single one of them ingrained in the fabric of the purple and gold he holds so dear.