Kobe Bryant says his new nickname is "Vino."

The nickname means wine, which the unnamed friend compares Kobe Bryant too. The friend refers to him like wine; it gets better with age.

Omg . My man just gave me a new nickname and I love it! Ha #vino

— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) March 1, 2013

Vino might replace the "Black Mamba" that has been associated with Bryant lately.

E=mc2 = #Vino — Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) March 1, 2013

Bryant or Vino, as like to be called, is in the midst of one of his best seasons yet at 34-years-old. Playing in his 17^th season, Bryant has become more of a distributor, instead of scoring at will. Number 24 in the LA Lakers programs has adapted with his age, attempting to get other players involved, equaling to better success for the team.

The five-time NBA champion is averaging 27.3 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game and a career high in assist, averaging 5.6 a game. This has made for a dynamic season

This off-season, the Lakers signed two-time MVP Steve Nash and one of the most dominant centers in the NBA, Dwight Howard.

The team struggled and five games into the season, fired Mike Brown as the team's head coach. Mike Mike D'Antoni was hired as Brown's replacement and the team didn't exactly improve.

Until recently, the team has finally been playing better basketball. As of Tuesday, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers are 7-3 in their last ten games. They sit two games out of the final playoff spot with 22 games left on the schedule.

Vino has been able to maintain a healthy season playing for a franchise that has been riddled with injuries for large chunks of the season.

In the beginning of the year, Nash was out. Howard would join him, come back and be injured again. Back-ups were forced to join the starting line up and play more minutes, but then some of them even were hurt.