Kobe Bryant has insisted that he will return to action with the Los Angeles Lakers once he recovers from a knee injury, even if the team cannot make the playoffs.
The shooting guard fractured his left knee last month, shortly after returning from an Achilles tear.
He told ESPN: "The only thing I can afford to consider is getting better, getting stronger. I can't allow myself to think any other way.
"I can only think about the next step. To do anything else becomes distracting if you allow yourself, if you give yourself wiggle room to not push yourself as hard as you possibly can.
"To think about sitting out and this, that and the other, your motivation is all wrong. I refuse to think that way."
The Lakers currently sit 13 wins behind Pacific Division leaders the Los Angeles Clippers.
