Kobe speaks about knee recovery, next evaluation pushed to February

Kobe Bryant won't be re-evaluated on Jan. 27 as originally expected. Instead, the next stage of evaluation in his recovery from a fractured knee has been pushed to February.

That was the major takeaway from some time Bryant spent speaking to the media on Friday before the Los Angeles Lakers squared off with the Boston Celtics.

Bryant wouldn't provide a specific date in February, but he needs an MRI to reveal the fracture has healed before he'll be able to play. He will return, however, regardless of the team's record, at least according to Bryant.

He also responded to Magic Johnson's suggestion that Bryant shut it down for the season:

“The only thing I can afford to consider is getting better and getting strong. I can’t allow myself to think any other way. I can only think about the next day. To do anything else becomes distracting. You don’t allow yourself because you give yourself wiggle room not to push yourself as hard as you possibly can. If I think I’m going to sit out, this, that and the other, then the motivation is gone. I refuse to let that happen.”

The Black Mamba has been sidelined since Dec. 17, just six games after he returned from the Achilles injury that cut his 2013-13 season short.

Later, Bryant was asked about the return of Rajon Rondo for the Boston Celtics and how he may respond to being the last remaining star on a now-rebuilding team.

He's not wrong, by all accounts. Hopefully next time these teams square off, both players will be completely healthy.