Kobe Bryant Interview: Date, Start Time and Event Info for 'Kobe Up Close'

Kobe Bryant, one of the NBA’s most popular superstars, is holding a live televised special on Thursday night.

The Black Mamba has had a whirlwind of an offseason, and it only continues to get more intriguing and exciting as the weeks go on.

He’s visited Europe, Asia and the Pacific on a publicity tour, worked relentlessly to rehabilitate his torn Achilles tendon and continues to add more to his plate with the preseason just around the corner.

Let’s take a look at where you can view and what to expect from the Mamba’s latest venture, Kobe Up Close, which will be airing live in just a few hours.

 

When: Thursday, July 15

Where: Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles

Time: 11:30 p.m. ET

Watch: AXS TV

Hashtag: #axsKOBE

Jimmy Kimmel, the late night talk show personality, will be hosting the event, helping to sort through submissions and hopefully asking the Los Angeles Lakers superstar the best and most poignant questions of the lot.

Bryant has pledged to talk about his past, present and future, the latter of which may be the most interesting.

The Mamba has spoken on his potential retirement and plans for after his contract runs up—in the summer of 2014—on numerous occasions, but he has never given a truly concrete answer.

If he’s being honest and forthright during his time on the special, there may just be some new information out there that will finally put to rest the argument of whether Bryant will retire after the season.

Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks and prominent investor, serves as the chairman of AXS TV, the network that will air this event on Thursday.

It’ll certainly be interesting to see what sorts of topics are discussed. Hopefully we finally receive some sort of clue as to what direction Bryant is leaning toward in regard to his retirement and other pertinent basketball decisions.

Don’t forget to tune in at 11:30 p.m. ET, and make sure you submit a few good questions prior to the start of the special by clicking here.