Thousands of fans packed the Westfield Culver City mall on Saturday, March 1, to get a glimpse of Kobe Bryant -- the Black Mamba himself -- who was onsite to promote his Nike Kobe 9 Elite shoe.

During a spirited Q&A at the mall's central courtyard, the five-time NBA champion who just signed a two-year deal with the Lakers, talked about what the fans should expect from the next two years, saying:

“We all know it’s been a real tough year for us, right? So what I’d like everybody to do is to just sit back and absorb this year. Take it all in. Sit back and watch and listen and hear all the hate that’s being thrown at us, and remember every person that’s kicking you when you’re down. Because next year, it ain’t gonna be this way.”

"Appreciate it now," he said. "Let it sit in now, because revenge is sweet and it’s quick.”