LeBron: Kobe 'knows he don't suck'

Kobe Bryant had another not-so-great night in another Los Angeles Lakers loss Tuesday, but LeBron James is not buying too much into Kobe's self-critique of late.

"What I see is a challenge to himself," James told the Akron Beacon Journal's Jason Lloyd. "It has zero to do with his age. Zero."

The 37-year-old Bryant matter-of-factly called himself the "200th best player in the league" Monday, summarizing his early-season struggles with the statement, "I freaking suck."

Bryant has yet to shoot over 42 percent in a game this season, and has been held under 20 points in three of four games played. While most expected the Lakers to struggle this season, many had hoped to see Bryant perform at a standard healthy level in his 20th and perhaps final NBA season.

James expanded on the age issue with an interesting revelation about his own self-confidence.

"I think at one point in my career, in my 20s, I felt like I sucked," James said. "It's all a personal challenge ... I know him. He knows he don't suck. C'mon man, it’s Kobe Bryant. But it’s a personal challenge to him. That's all that is."