While Kobe Bryant didn't actually play in the Los Angeles Lakers' preseason game Friday against the Golden State Warriors as he continues to recover from a torn Achilles, the Lakers star gave the crowd in Shanghai something to cheer about.
Kobe Bryant update: Lakers star participates in drills in China
Bryant drew big cheers from the Shanghai crowd as he took part in shooting and running drills before the Lakers’ preseason game on Friday.
Bryant took the floor before the game, participating in some shooting and sprinting drills that drew a big rise out of the fans in China, where he’s very popular. Just check out this Vine from Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News:
Bryant began to ramp up his workouts earlier in the week, shortly after returning from Germany to have a knee procedure done on his right knee.
It's still viewed as unlikely that Bryant returns to the lineup in time for the Lakers' regular-season opener against the Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 29, and he himself has said he would need at least three weeks to get his conditioning in order.
However, based on the progress he has been making of late, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if Bryant suited up for the opener. And even if he doesn’t, his return doesn’t seem like it will be too far off.
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