Kobe Bryant says there's a good reason he won't take a charge - USA TODAY

Broadcasters, coaches and fans love to celebrate NBA players who have a reputation for absorbing the body-rattling blow that comes from taking a charge.

Kobe Bryant is proud to not be one of them.

Bryant says he made a decision early in his career not to volunteer for that kind of punishment after seeing what it did to NBA greats Scottie Pippen and Larry Bird.

"I learned from my predecessors, man," Bryant told the AP yesterday. "Pippen had a (messed) up back taking charges. Bird had a (messed) up back taking charges. I said, 'I'm not taking charges.' I figured that (stuff) out at an early age."

Bryant also took note of two superstars who avoided taking charges, Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson.

"I've seen Michael not take one ... charge and he's healthy his whole career, and the same thing with Magic," Bryant told the AP. "I might not be the smartest guy in the room but I can figure that (stuff) out."

The issue of Bryant's defensive play came up because the Lakers forced Oklahoma City into only four turnovers in Game 1 of their playoff series. The record for fewest turnovers in an NBA game is three.