"I think our team is as good as anybody else in the league, especially in the highly competitive Western Conference," said Kobe. Therefore, after enjoying just a brief one and a half month break during summer, Kobe said he has returned to practice and his team will begin preparing for the next season very soon, hopefully with the resigning key free agent Lamar Odom, and the newly arrived Ron Artest.

Negotiations broke down last week and the Lakers retracted a contract offer to Odom.

Bryant also mentioned that Artest, who signed as a free agent with the Lakers earlier this month, will help bolster the team's chances of repeating last season's success.

"I think Ron's going to be a great addition to us," Bryant said. "It's about how well we play together. No matter how much talent you have, it's about how you put those pieces of the puzzle together."

Kobe made the comments during a press conference held in Taipei yesterday. It is his third visit to Taiwan in four years. Taiwanese people are passionate about basketball, said the Lakers star shooting guard. "I can feel that every time I come, so it is important for me to stop here to show some skills and moves to young basketball players here."

After the press conference, Kobe visited National Taiwan University Sports Center where he thrilled a two-thousand crowd at a coaching clinic for 13 selected players of Nike Summer League.