Kobe Bryant told SportsIllustrated.com this week "he is 100 percent healthy" from the season-ending left knee injury he suffered this year just six games into the season.
Speaking with reporters while attending the FIFA World Cup Games in Brazil," the 35-year-old Bryant added "this summer I'm training really hard. The organization is working really hard to make sure we have a good team. That's the best time, when people count you out."
Kobe Bryant cleared for workouts
Coming on the heels of their worst season (27-55) since moving to Los Angeles more than five decades ago, the Lakers have just three players under contract for next season heading into summer and have yet to name a replacement for departed coach Mike D'Antoni.
"That's a very, very tough call to make," Bryant told SI of who he thinks the Lakers should now turn to as their new leader."Unfortunately there are very few great coaches out there. I don't know why that is. We're going to take our time to find the right person. It's literally like starting from scratch. It's not really what we have to do better from last year, it's just we have to build the right team to win."
Kobe wants input on coaching hire?
The Lakers also hold the No. 7 pick in next week's NBA draft, which boasts the likes of projected young stars Jabari Parker, Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid, Dante Exum and Aaron Gordon. Veteran swingman Nick Young also holds a player option for next season with the team and Pau Gasol is a restricted free agent.
Bryant averaged 14 points, six assists and four rebounds last season and is now just 593 points behind six-time champion Michael Jordan for third-place on the NBA's all-time scoring list.
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