Kobe's big in Beijing

Kobe Bryant is more popular than he even imagined in China. The Los Angeles Lakers star and NBA MVP who's playing for the United States men's basketball team said he was surprised by how many fans he has in China.
"I was running around yesterday, and I was telling my friend that I don't know when this happened," Bryant said after the United States beat Angola. "We come out here every summer to do clinics and stuff like that, and I have always been pretty popular, but I don't know when this happened."
The United States handily beat Angola 97-76 for its second win in the Olympics. Bryant said the fans in China have gone to some extreme lengths to catch a glimpse of him and the players from the United States.
"The other day it was pouring down raining, and there was still a group outside of about 100 kids, just waiting, chasing the bus in the rain," Bryant said. "They're dedicated."
Bryant did not make a shot in the first half against Angola, going 0-for-5 from the field, but scored eight points in the third quarter and was impressed with the way Angola played.
"I think they did a good job," Bryant said. "They were able to knock down shots and stay in the game. It wasn't like we blew them out by 40 or 50 points."
Bryant's Lakers teammate Pau Gasol is on the Spanish basketball team. Bryant said he was able to visit with Gasol before the basketball games started.
"One of the first days I came over here I went over to the village, and I took about 30 minutes with him, just talking and catching up," Bryant said. "It just felt like the first time you've seen your brother in a long time. That's how I feel about him. I care about him a lot, and I want him to do well."
Next up for the United States team is Greece, which beat the United States two years ago in the semifinals of the world championship in Japan.
"It's a match up we are looking forward to," Bryant said. "They are a tough team, and last time we faced them they beat us, so we are looking forward to it. It will be a great opportunity for us to see how much we've improved since we last played them."
Greece, a team with no NBA players, beat the United States, which was loaded with NBA all-stars.
"Basketball is such a global sport, you really don't have to have NBA players," Bryant said. "You can be a great basketball player and never play one game in the NBA. That's just how it is."
After the game against Greece, the United States plays Spain, which is also 2-0 in the Olympics. Spain beat China in overtime for its most recent win. Bryant said he does not think the United States should be considered a favorite to beat Spain when they play.
"No I don't think so," Bryant said. "I mean we haven't done anything, we haven't proved anything. We still have a lot of work to do here."
Bryant was held scoreless in the first half and the United States made five of 21 3-point shots against Angola. The U.S.'s 3-point shooting appears to be the team's only weakness after two games of Olympic play.
"It's been a struggle," Bryant said. "We have to adjust to being spot up shooters. All of us are not acclimated to being spot up shooters. That is something that we have to tweak a little bit and get used to. But when big games come around, they are going to fall."