Kobe Bryant has insisted that he is determined to return to court for the Los Angeles Lakers before the end of the current season.
The 35-year-old has been out of action since the middle of December due to a knee injury, but has rejected suggestions that he will delay his comeback until the beginning of the next campaign.
"My plan hasn't changed," Bryant told reporters. "I'm just going about it every single day just trying to get better. That's my job."
Despite remaining upbeat about his rehabilitation, Bryant refused to set a date for when he will be available to Mike D'Antoni's struggling Lakers side.
"It's completely out of my control. I really got to sit here and just wait until this thing heals up and then go out there and do what I do," the veteran added.
The Lakers are currently 13th in the Western Conference with an 18-33 record.
