With five NBA titles in hand, Kobe Bryant knows the look of a winner.

While conceding this year's version of the L.A. Lakers are nowhere near that level, Bryant is vowing that the organization will again soon have their day.

"Next year it ain't going to be this way," Bryant told LakersNation.com. "Appreciate it now because revenge is sweet and it's quick."

Although Bryant continues to insist he will return to the court as quickly as possible and perhaps even this season as he rehabs from a knee injury, the Hall of Fame veteran seemed to have his eye on next season as he made his boldest predictions.

The contracts of at least 10 of the players on this year's 15 man Lakers roster are in end the final year of their contracts this, including veteran center Pau Gasol, who earns nearly $20 million in salary this season. With all the money off the books and the team free to use it to entice other star players to team with a hopefully by then healthy Bryant, the Lakers are confident they can quickly rebound.

Though he's played in just six games this season. Bryant was starting to show signs of being his old self before going down with his knee injury.