The Lakers preview their new black "Hollywood Nights" jersey.

So it's basically the same old Lakers purple jersey, but black. Cool.

Ronny Turiaf tops Kobe, jumps over monster truck.

IN A SUIT TOO. Can't wait for those same celebrations when Ricky Rubio does something crazy. Basketball internet loves this man.

Kobe Bryant defeats TV host in a chopsticks competition and beatboxes in China.

KOBE DON'T LOSE, SON. #DOMINATECHOPSTICKS

Kobe Bryant stars in new China Nike Basketball commercial.

Coach Kobe at work.

Random NBA .GIF of the Day: Kobe Bryant's Secret Mamba Handshake.

Via: @YahooSports

HISSSSSSSS.

Kobe Bryant is picking up marbles with his toes to rehab his torn Achilles tendon.

Hey Kobe, since you are already picking stuff up with your toes, can you swing by my nephew's house to put away his hot wheels for me? Thanks. It would be great for your rehab, I promise. Just don't slip on any of them.

Random NBA .GIF of the Day: Afro Kobe Bryant's 360 dunk.

FRO. Via: Reddit/Tumblr

Good ol' number 8.

Nick Young says he will not let Kobe Bryant stop him from shooting.

And we are (at least, I am) not expecting anything less. The Lakers are going to be so fun next year.

Random NBA Photo of the Day: Dwight Howard, the mightiest troll.

He just had to get the last laugh. Via: hoopmag

"Good luck, Kobe" - Dwight Howard, probably.

Kobe Bryant is already ahead of schedule, plans to return by season opener.

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Kobe is not human. It's only been 3 months since he went under surgery for a torn Achilles tendon and he is already looking at August for full activity.

Kobe on his rehab: "I'm progressing faster than everybody expected so I'm very happy with it." He is targeting mid August for full activity
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 10, 2013

As crazy as it sounds, even his orthopedic surgeon confirmed the news. If everything goes accordingly, Kobe will be 2 months ahead of schedule and will be on the floor for the first game of the season.

KOBE to be at full activity in 4 weeks. That means no restrictions but later stages of tendon recovery still remain. Will see him at Game 1.
— Dr. Robert Klapper (@DrRobertKlapper) July 10, 2013

Yay for medical science advancements and illegal German procedures. Thanks for keeping Kobe together.

Via: BTB

Metta World Peace responded to his amnesty with oranges.

And no, it doesn't make any sense.

Breaking news !!! Guess what !! I am so sad to announce that I ........
— Metta World Peace (@MettaWorldPeace) July 9, 2013

Should I say it??? I just got the confirmation call...;((
— Metta World Peace (@MettaWorldPeace) July 9, 2013

Ok. My breaking news is my oranges that I love will not be on sale at whole foods. Worst day ever!!
— Metta World Peace (@MettaWorldPeace) July 9, 2013

Please whole foods!!! Put them juicy oranges on sale!!! Pleeasssseeee!!!!
— Metta World Peace (@MettaWorldPeace) July 9, 2013

Nothing is confirmed yet, but seeing that Metta is due for 7.7 million next year and has gone completely insane, it is going to happen.

Kobe Bryant challenges Dwight Howard in the Lakers' pitch.

When keeping it real goes wrong... (The Kobe Bryant Edition)

From Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports:

"You need to learn how it's done first, and I can teach you here," Bryant told Howard during the Lakers' presentation, witnesses in the room described to Yahoo! Sports. 

Bryant didn't come to Howard's recruitment meeting in Beverly Hills to appease him, but to challenge Howard to stay and embrace the burden of the franchise's culture and embrace Bryant's demanding disposition. Bryant invoked Michael Jordan's hard-driving ways as his blueprint, and how it pushed the Chicago Bulls to six titles. 

Bryant, a five-time NBA champion, insisted he wouldn't retreat in pushing Howard every day, that as much as the Lakers needed Howard, Howard needed Bryant and the Lakers, too. 

"You have to learn how it's done," Bryant told Howard, witnesses described. "I know how to do it and I've learned from the best – players who have won multiple times over and over." 

"Instead of trying to do things your way, just listen and learn and tweak it, so it fits you," Bryant told him.

Yep, that will definitely go over well. I am sure Dwight will be thrilled to do things Kobe's way. I mean why would he leave to go play in a place where there are lower taxes, and a more promising future, when he can stay and take another load of Kobe's criticism on a team that is now supposedly "his"? Kobe can be so Ko(ld)be sometimes.

Kobe Bryant is already back in the gym, shooting hoops again.

FACT: Kobe has never not made me feel like a lazy slob. Dude is insane. Via: Kobe Bryant Instagram

This man had surgery for his TORN ACHILLES just a little over a month ago and he is already back in the gym, getting shots up. DEFINITELY NOT HUMAN.

Kobe Bryant has his own statue in China.

Kobe looks like he put on a few pounds. Via: @eds824

Kobe Bryant is obviously super popular in China (NBA leader in jersey sales in China for six years running), so the statue sort of makes sense, but don't think too much of it, Stephon Marbury got his own too.

Kobe Bryant takes on 2 year old phenom in a shooting contest.

Chill, dudes. This was filmed a few months ago, Kobe is still hurt and is probably lying in his bed somewhere, plotting Dwight Howard's demise.

Kobe, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and other NBA players read mean tweets.

Gazelles? Really? How do people come up with these things.

Metta World Peace talks about defending Jordan, Kobe and LeBron.

Cool, but I bet none of them is harder to guard than Brandon Roy though. Your words, not mine, Metta.

A numbers breakdown of Kobe Bryant's shooting efficiency.

...Or maybe those players are shooting more in critical situations BECAUSE they are the best players on their team. Anyways, this is good stuff, except that Kobe isn't exactly bald... at least, not yet.

Kobe Bryant's "Forever BIG" NBA Finals Promo.

Ah, the good old number 8, Kobe should have never changed his number. Still not sure why the NBA is making these NBA finals promos for players that didn't even make it past the first round of the playoffs. It's cool, I guess.

The Los Angeles Lakers 2012-2013 Season Blooper Reel.

They would have included every moment of the Lakers' season, but that would be too long of a blooper reel. BURN.