Los Angeles Lakers

The Vyper, bone broth, chocolate milk concoction that keeps Kobe going

Published Feb. 14, 2016 1:16 p.m. ET

Jeff Caplan

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant has made it no secret that the most difficult part of his 20th and final NBA season is getting his body ready to play on a nightly basis.

Over the past few seasons, Bryant has dealt with a series of serious injuries that might have had other players seated on the couch long ago rather than suiting up for Sunday's All-Star Game. For Bryant to prepare his body to play, it literally takes a village of trainers, massage therapists, physical therapists and nutritionists.

In a recent article, Baxter Holmes of ESPN, delved into Bryant's complex regimen that is designed to keep his body as healthy as possible for his retirement tour season.

Here's how Holmes describes a portion of that regimen:

The Lakers are happy to provide Bryant with whatever care he needs. As Holmes explains, it's not just to make Bryant happy in his final season, but also for the Lakers' benefit. Bryant provides one of the only real reasons to watch this Lakers team, which sits at the bottom of the Western Conference standings. With a mammoth local television deal in place, the Lakers need eyeballs to stay tuned in.

Here's how Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak described this all-Kobe-all-the-time season to Holmes:

Even when Bryant is nowhere near at the capabilities he once possessed, he remains L.A.'s one and only showstopper. The Lakers will do whatever they can to keep on the court for the next two months.