Kobe Bryant: "Rape Case Helped me Become Better Person"

Los Angeles Lakers star guard opens up about case that almost ruined him.

For the first time in nearly a decade, Kobe Bryant has opened up about his famed rape case.

According to TMZ, the star Los Angeles Lakers guard opened up calling the time one of his "darkest ever."

"I think it challenges who you are as a person. To have to go through something like that not only individually but as a family. For the Lakers organization, my teammates. It was extremely difficult and you kinda had to do some soul searching, because you’re fighting numerous battles at the same time. You just kind of try to figure your way through all of this mess. And the only thing that you can do is put one foot in front of the other, and just continue to move forward."

During the interview where he opened up with Graham Bensinger, Kobe said he spoke with NFL star Ray Lewis who went through a murder case around the same time.

"Other players can’t relate to that sort of stuff, to that type of pressure," Bryant said ... "That’s real pressure."

Bryant eventually settled with his accuser. He almost lost his marriage to his wife Vanessa Bryant.

[SUBSCRIBE TO LOOP 21 RSS FEED]