Kobe Bryant says sitting out the season is not an option

Kobe Bryant said he would return this season, regardless of the Lakers' sagging record.

"If you give yourself wiggle room to not push yourself as hard as you possibly can by thinking 'I'm going to sit out' . . . then the motivation's gone, and I refuse to have that happen," Bryant said Friday before the Lakers beat the Boston Celtics.

Magic Johnson told The Times on Wednesday that Bryant should skip the rest of the season to prevent further injury.