Over the course of 20 seasons, I suffered my fair share of serious?injuries. The first thing I always thought about in those situations?was, “What do I need to do to get back to 100 percent?” That was?my mindset. I never let fear or doubt seep into my psyche. I never?whined and I never complained. I mean, for what?

On the fractures, small breaks, and sprains I asked myself a different?question: “Will it get worse if I play through it?” If it was going to?be painful but not get worse, I’d deal with it 100 percent of the?time. That was the only thought process for me.

I fought through some injuries—ankles, back, knees, shoulders—that limited me in certain ways. In those instances, I’d spend time?during shootaround and early in the game testing out what I could?and couldn’t do on the court. Once I established my limitations, I’d?adjust my gameplan accordingly. Occasions like that are reminders?why you need to have a well-rounded game, why you need to be?able to do everything with both hands, off?of either foot, whether?you’re 30 feet from the basket or in the post.

When I was hurt, I was less athletic. It limited some of my burst and?explosion. But that’s all it did. I was still me, still Kobe.

The game is full of ebbs and flows—the good, the bad, and?everything in between. With all that was going on around me, I had?to figure out how to steel my mind and keep calm and centered.?That’s not to say my emotions didn’t spike or drop here or there, but?I was aware enough to recalibrate and bring them back level before?things spiraled. I could do that in a way others couldn’t, and that?was really key for me.