Kobe Bryant had cut his practice time all together this season in "early-to-mid November" because of a balky knee.

However, a team source says that Bryant has picked up his practice time in recent weeks in response to his team's recent struggles.

Bryant's frustration came to a head after a home loss to the Heat on Christmas, which came on the heels of a loss to the Bucks.

He then vowed to get more involved in practice and his knee is swelling as a result.

"Because I have very little cartilage under my right knee cap," Bryant told the New York Post. "It's almost bone on bone."

He has undergone three operations on the knee and had to have it drained during the playoffs last season.

"Until I got it drained the first time during the opening round against the Thunder I could not bend that knee at all," Bryant said. "It was swollen as hell and it hurt like hell. Luckily things got a lot better once I had the procedure."