'I'm all right, a little bit better today, a better mood, anyway,' Bryant said after sitting out practice due to the hyperextended right knee he suffered on Tuesday in the Los Angeles Lakers' 102-98 win over the Charlotte Bobcats in San Diego.

Wearing an ice bag on his knee, Bryant said he felt a lot better about his injury on Wednesday.

'There was no swelling,' he said. 'At that point, I knew I was OK. Some injuries can go either way. You've got to get lucky. I didn't sleep much, to be honest with you. Just moving it around, seeing if it was all right.'

Bryant, the reigning league MVP, was injured under the Lakers' basket when he banged knees with teammate Josh Powell while going for a rebound.

'I saw the ring flash before my eyes,' Bryant said. 'I was pretty worried. That's the scariest part, sitting there for five or 10 minutes, seeing what's going to develop.' -- AP