Kobe's return next season 'never a question'

As Kobe Bryant made his first public comments to local media since suffering his injury on Jan. 21, he tried to make one point clear: He'll be back in 2015-16, the final year of his contract with the Lakers, during which he's slated to be paid a league-high $25 million.

"Who the hell said I was retiring next year?" Bryant asked. "There was never a question for me, whether or not I was going to play next year. It was never a question."

Bryant will be 37 this summer and has been sidelined by Achilles and knee injuries prior to this season.