Finally, Bryant let out a long sigh and insisted, I wondered how I was ever going to play basketball again.
His arthritic knee had gone bone on bone, making every step an excruciating exercise. Bryant felt like the end was creeping closer. He couldnt practice and couldnt move with authority on the floor. There were a lot of thoughts, a lot of self-evaluating going on, wondering, how can I ever be effective again? How am I going to play despite this knee? I couldnt move. It was just so painful. There was nothing I could do.
But now I feel brand new, man.
Rest assured, Bryant has watched one star after another go down in these playoffs, and it leaves him grateful, gratified for the chance to play. Right now, I have the opportunity to compete again, he said. Last year, I felt like I was on one leg.
And it still bothers him because Bryant has to come to understand hes running out of time his knee wont stay strong forever. He closed his eyes in the bowels of the Staples Center late Tuesday and hit the rewind button back to the uncertainty, the unnerving end in Dallas last spring. Something else still stays with him, still bothers him, and probably always will.
I couldnt give Phil all of me for his last season, Bryant said.
00-02.
put up 30/6/5 with 3 Finals/2 championships. Great run.
