Kobe Bryant tried to 'pull tendon up' after sustaining injury

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant has revealed that he tried to "pull his tendon up" as he realised the extent of his injury last season.

The 35-year-old, who suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in the build-up to the playoffs last season, insists that he wanted to play on after making two free-throws before exiting the court.

"When I first did it, right there, I was trying to feel if the tendon is there or if it's gone," Bryant said, according to Pro Basketball Talk.

"I realized it wasn't there. I was literally trying to pull the tendon up, so hopefully I could walk and kind of hobble through the last two and a half minutes and try to play."

Bryant's mental and physical toughness have been a hallmark of his career as he looks to recover in time for what will be his 18th NBA season.