Kobe Bryant voiced his opinion of the criticism received by LeBron James in the wake of Miami's loss in the Finals to the Mavericks.

"I think people need to lay off that kid, that's what I think," Bryant said of James. "I've gotten to know him pretty well, playing with the Olympic team, and I think they just need to back off him and just let him play and let him live his life and let him make his decisions and let him mature as a player."

Bryant said he can relate to what James has experienced.

"It's tough to be under the microscope like that all the time," Bryant said. "So, I would like everybody to just back off of him and just let him play."