When Kobe Bryant finished the 10-11 season, he wondered how his arthritic knee would ever let him play basketball again.

“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 couldn’t move. It was just so painful. There was nothing I could do.

“But now I feel brand new, man.”

Bryant underwent blood-platelet therapy last summer in Germany and the pain is gone. Bryant also has his mobility back.