The Los Angeles Lakers are hoping Kobe Bryant will be able to make it back on the court from his torn Achilles tendon by Opening Night; while Bryant has been given the go-ahead to intensify workouts, he's not putting any timetables out yet.
"I just keep it all open right now," Bryant said. "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."
Two major events that need to happen for Kobe to feel ready to return are regaining explosiveness in his left leg, and returning to game shape. In order to build explosiveness back in the leg, ESPN.com reports he's been running with his full body weight on an "altered-gravity" treadmill. He also goes through regimens that target Achilles strength.
"I do a lot of calf raises during the day, just trying to get it as strong as possible and constantly pushing the flexibility of it, the mobility," said Bryant.
In terms of getting into basketball shape, that will just require a boot camp of sorts. "I need to get my fat ass in shape," Bryant said. "Six months of eating whatever the hell I wanted to eat and not running has caught up to me a little bit. So, I got to get in shape."
It is highly unlikely that Bryant will be able to test any of these factors in a game situation before the regular season starts. "I'll be happy when I'm able to be out there on the floor and do what I do best," Bryant said. "All this right now is just a process to try to get to that point."
Head coach Mike D'Antoni didn't have answers either in terms of a return date, but he seems to think Bryant will be back earlier than projected.
"He's just relentless," D'Antoni said. "Somebody that's accomplished as much as he has to have the desire, that's what makes his great. His work ethic, I don't think anybody can top it. Now, there are other guys who do well also, but it's an unbelievable work ethic."
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