Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant says he received the "green light" to gear up his workouts in anticipation of returning for the regular season, Dave McMenamin of ESPN L.A. reports. However, the timetable for his return remains uncertain as he recovers from April surgery to repair his Achilles.
Kobe Bryant working into game shape after doctors give ‘green light’
Kobe takes the next step towards returning from surgery on his Achilles.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Spor
Rather than commit to returning by the beginning of the season on Oct. 29, Bryant took the high road on commenting when he might be ready to return:
“I just keep it all open right now. I don’t know why you guys are so hell-bent on timelines. It’s like the most ridiculous thing to me. It’s entertaining. When I’m ready, I’m ready.”
For a 35-year-old coming off major surgery, Bryant has been remarkably quick in his recovery. He’s already been running on an altered-gravity treadmill, one of many exercises he’s used to strengthen his ankle since undergoing surgery in April.
Getting into game shape is the next step in Kobe's recovery. He says he needs at least three weeks of rigorous training to get back into shape, a timeline that would at least remove him from the Lakers' remaining preseason games. Assuming the team takes a cautious approach, his return for the season opener against the Clippers seems shaky, but a lack of setbacks could have him back early in the season.
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