Kobe on players taking discounts: 'I think it's a big coup for the owners'

Kobe Bryant has never been one to shy away from encouraging players to get as much money as they can, and Friday was no different.

With Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers in Dallas to take on the Mavericks, who resigned Dirk Nowitzki to an incredibly team-friendly, three-year, $25-million contract this summer, the Black Mamba once again addressed players taking hometown discounts.

"It's the popular thing to do. The player takes less, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah," Bryant said, as reported by ESPN's Tim MacMahon.

"I think it's a big coup for the owners to put players in situations where public perception puts pressure on them to take less money. Because if you don't, then you get criticized for it. It's absolutely brilliant, but I'm not going for it. I know the new head of the players' association ain't going for it, either," Bryant said of new NBPA director, Michele Roberts.

Bryant and the Lakers were criticized for the $48.5-million extension that keeps him the highest paid player through this season and next despite his aging quality. But given that he took less than a maximum salary and is worth a ton off the court to the Lakers, Bryant actually believes he made a sacrifice.

"So did I take a discount? Yeah," Bryant said. "Did I take as big a discount as some of you fans would want me to? No. Is it a big enough discount to help us be a contender? Yeah."