Kobe Bryant is playing down reports that he would consider leaving the Los Angeles Lakers to sign with a title contender in the hope of winning his sixth NBA championship.

Bryant said in an interview with Yahoo Sports that he is aware of talks about him asking for a trade to a contender, but he denied such rumors, reiterating that he is very loyal to the Lakers and their fans.

"I hear the chatter of Kobe should ask out and he should go and play for a contender in this latter stage of his career," Bryant said. "But that's not what I do. I'm extremely loyal to the Lakers."

The Lakers, who are coming off one of the worst seasons in franchise history after finishing with a 27-55 record last year, started the season with four straight defeats.

The Lakers' injury woes continue as veteran point guard Steve Nash was ruled out for the entire season because of a back injury, while rookie forward Julius Randle sustained a season-ending leg injury in his first professional game.

"We can't get discouraged by it," Bryant said of their 0-4 start this season. "It's a very long season. You just have to stay the course. Keep on looking to improve, keep on looking to get better and things will eventually break."

"I've enjoyed a great amount of success here. You can't just enjoy the successful times and then run away from the bad ones. No, I don't even think about [departing]. I'm a Laker."

Bryant, who only played in six games last season because of a knee injury he sustained just as when he was slowly getting into his rhythm following an Achilles tendon surgery, also quashed talks about his health, saying that he has been feeling good about himself since training camp started.

"I knew I was ready, I was healthy and my skill was there," Bryant said. "I did everything possible and that's the important thing. Everything I could control, diet, training, stretching, therapy. I did everything physically possible."

In the first four games, Bryant, who is playing in the first year of his two-year, $48 million deal with the Lakers, averaged 24.8 points to go along with 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.

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