The will to win is strong with Kobe Bryant, as evidenced by his five championship rings, but if he accomplishes the feat Lakers vice president Jim Buss believes is possible, than Kobe might be superhuman.
Buss told NBA TV that it's not only possible for Bryant to return for the start of next season, but that he expects it. Buss went on to say he could be ready for preseason games after tearing his Achilles tendon in April.
"Well, we're in Vegas, and I would bet a lot of money that this guy comes back probably in preseason. He's real sharp in taking care of himself and he's not going to rush anything just to get back and prove a point. He's going to come back when he's right. He's a machine. He's inhuman. I see him coming back at the beginning of this season. I can't believe how much he's progressed so far."
Bryant's return would be a major boon to a Lakers' squad that is currently hamstrung by issues with the luxury tax, and the departure of Dwight Howard, whom they were hoping would be a franchise cornerstone for the next decade. His relationship with Bryant was said to be strained, however, due to clashes over Kobe's leadership style.
When Kobe does return, he will still have Pau Gasol and Steve Nash in tow, but little else in the way of star power. The Lakers also amnestied Metta World Peace, despite Kobe's protestations on Twitter.
Buss acknowledged the risk L.A. took in trading for Howard, telling NBA TV they knew there was a possibility Howard would be a one-year rental.
"We were prepared. [Lakers general manager] Mitch [Kupchak] and I, we had quite a few meetings. If he leaves, this is what's going to happen, this is what we're going to do, and if he stays, this is what's going to happen, this is what we're going to do. It's not like I didn't want him to stay, but we were very prepared, so it wasn't a shock to our system or the Lakers' fans or the Lakers' organization that if he left, he would put us in a bad spot. We were OK either way, because we prepared for it."
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