Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant is one of the smartest players to have ever played the game. He studied game film religiously and would spend hours and hours and hours in the gym perfecting his craft. All that work helped the Lakers great win five NBA championships and cement himself as one of the greatest basketball players ever.

However, Kobe Bryant knew he had to study the refs as well if he wanted a competitive advantage on the court. It's just how he is wired. He loves basketball so much that he wants to know all the nuances of the game.

During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Kobe Bryant tells a funny story about how he was able to get away with fouls in the NBA. He was able to because he read a book which told him where the refs were going to be positioned on the court.

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In 1,346 career games for Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant established himself as the greatest Laker of all-time. He holds career averages of 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. The 6-foot-6 shooting guard was an 18-time All-Star, two-time scoring champion, made the All-NBA team 15 times and was a two-time Finals MVP. He is widely considered the second-best shooting guard of all-time behind Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan.