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One thing he didn't do was play for the United States at the world championships. He wanted to be on the team, but his right knee didn't co-operate. He had arthroscopic surgery instead, a decision he's altogether happy with as he gets ready for his 11th season.

"The knee's getting healthier and stronger day by day," the Los Angeles Lakers' star told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "I haven't been able to run yet; I should be cleared to run in a while. I've been doing a lot of weight training, things of that nature."

Bryant hopes to hit the court running before the end of the month - just in time for the start of training camp Oct. 3.

"We just have to play it by ear," he said. "The most important thing is to get all the strength in my leg back. You don't want to rush it."

Bryant expects to be 100 per cent healthy by the time the Lakers open the season Oct. 31 against the Phoenix Suns.

"I hope so," he said with a laugh.

It was common knowledge that Kobe Bryant's knee bothered him last season, but apparently more than he let on.

"It took me 45 minutes to warm up for practice and games. It was crazy," Kobe Bryant recalled. "It was very sore, you just played around it. I couldn't attack, put pressure on the defence the way I wanted to."

Maybe not, but Kobe Bryant still managed to win his first scoring championship, averaging 35.4 points - the highest since Michael Jordan's 37.1 in the 1986-87 season and the eighth highest in NBA history.

Bryant led the Lakers to a 45-37 record and the playoffs after they went 34-48 a year earlier, when they failed to qualify for the first time in 11 years. Los Angeles extended Phoenix to seven games in the first round before losing.

Bryant, who turned 28 last month, figured rest was all his knee needed. But that didn't do it.

"I got back into my training, a couple days into it, it got sore," he said. "Then, it started getting worse."

He had surgery July 13, thinking he would make a full recovery in eight to 12 weeks. He seems right on schedule.

Bryant hopes the signing of Vladimir Radmanovic, Maurice Evans and Shammond Williams will strengthen the Lakers.

"We made some key additions with those guys," Kobe Bryant said. "We turned some heads the way we performed last season. We were a very young team. We're still a young team. I think it will be exciting."

Bryant helped put on three clinics this summer - in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Philadelphia - and will be part of a three-sport clinic Tuesday in conjunction with the New Orleans Recreation Department and the Fox Sports Network's "Best Damn Sports Show Period."

"It's an uphill battle," Bryant said, referring to the ongoing recovery from hurricane Katrina. "With any uphill battle, the important thing is to take it one day at a time. They're not alone in this."

Member of the New Orleans Saints are expected to participate along with the New Orleans Hornets and the New Orleans Zephyrs, a Triple-A baseball team.

During the summer, Kobe Bryant toured Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan. While in Taipei, he was quoted as saying the U.S. basketball team will have to work on its chemistry to perform well at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Didn't happen, he says now.

"Those words never came out of my mouth," he said. "I think something must have gotten lost in translation. Obviously, they misunderstood everything I was saying."

Bryant plans on playing in the Olympics, joining the likes of LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade. He credits other national teams for improved play, pointing to the world championships as a good example. The U.S. lost to Greece in the semifinals and finished with the bronze medal.

"I think they played extremely well," he said, referring to the American team. "Greece played better on that day. What can you say? It's on us to have that challenge to step up to that level."

NBA Future:
Spencer Hawes
Spencer Hawes Led all scorers with 24 points and added 10 rebounds, leading the United States under-18 men's team to a 104-82 triumph over Argentina in the gold medal game of the 2006 FIBA Americas under-18 Championship ... Averaged 12.0 points and 7.5 rebounds during the tournament ... The U.S. team was coached by Hawes' college coach, Lorenzo Romar ... Debuted for USA Basketball in April of 2006 as a member of the 2006 USA Junior National Select Team that defeated the World Select Team 109-91 at the Nike Hoop Summit in Memphis, Tenn