Did Kobe consider retirement?

With his knee failing him last season and a left ankle injury limiting him, Kobe Bryant thought of retiring after being swept out of the playoffs by the Dallas Mavericks last season.  He shared his thoughts with friend Alex Rodriguez on the matter.

"I know that he was hurting before, almost even thinking about retirement, that's how much pain he was under. And then he said after he went to Germany he felt like a 27-year-old again. I was still a little apprehensive about it and he kept staying on me about it."