For most of his career in the NBA, there have been two Kobe Bryants, evolving in mirror universes.
One is a 6-foot-6 inch Los Angeles Lakers guard who grew up playing Double Dribble with his cousins.
The other is also a basketball player, albeit a digital one created 10 years ago by video game developer Visual Concepts.
If the real Kobe built-up his shoulders, so would the virtual Kobe.
When he became leaner and faster, his digital doppelganger also became sleeker and more fleet-footed.
And if Kobe grew more hair, digital Kobe would also have longer hair.
This year, the virtual player will acquire another habit when NBA 2K10 comes out on October 6: He will sometimes jut out his chin in the heat of competition, just like the real Kobe.
The game's developer, now owned by Take-Two Interactive Software, has added facial animations to its franchise, which over the years has become the best-selling basketball simulation video game on the market.
What does Bryant think about this? We spoke with him about his role in the NBA 2K titles.
Q: Do you play video games?
A: I do. I enjoy the realism of it.
Q: What games did you play when you were a boy?
A: Double Dribble was my game. I had six cousins. My father played. My uncle played. My sister played. We all got together at my grandmother's house and had these tournaments in summertime in the back house.
It was really brutal. We played for hours. Then we'd go into the swimming pool. Then go back and play again. It was good times.
Q: Do you play now?
A: During the season, [Lakers guard] Jordan Farmar brings the Xbox [360] along.
The guys hook it up to the TV and we compete.
I have a lot of responsibilities making sure the team functions so most of my time is spent doing my homework.
But every once in a while I get to play.
Q: What do you think of your character in the game?
A: The same way I think of all the other characters.
I think the detail in them is just fascinating. You can look at the characters and tell who's who just by their body movements, their facial expressions, their profiles before you even look at their numbers.
Q: What kind of feedback have you given the game's developers over the years?
A: For me it's always been the same. I want to see my moves in the game.
I want to see my character do what I do. Every character should have moves that are exclusive to them.
Everybody's game should speak for itself in the video game itself.
Q: Who's got the better jump shot in this game, you or Hedo Turkoglu (of the Toronto Raptors, formerly the Orlando Magic)?
A: I don't know. Probably he does. He's a better shooter than I am.
Q: What do your kids think about you being on the cover?
A: My kids think it's cool.
They're like, "Daddy, that's you!" My older daughter thinks that's cool.
But the little one looks at me and starts giggling, and she'll get pretty excited to see me on the screen or see my picture. She's at a stage that's pretty great.
She's the biggest daddy's girl in the world.
Q: When you play 2K Sports' basketball games which team to do choose?
A: I play the Lakers, 100%. I'll be damned if I let someone else win.
