Kobe Bryant will not suit up for the LA Lakers in time for their opening game against the LA Clippers on October 29, with coach Mike D'Antoni giving a statement that the legendary shooting guard has not even run yet and appears to be far from returning to the court.
Speaking after the Lakers win over the Utah Jazz in their last preseason game, D'Antoni was quoted by Sports Illustrated as saying that Bryant will not be available in the nationally-televised game against Chris Paul and the LA Clippers.
"I know he's Superman, but my God. He hasn't run yet," D'Antoni was said to have remarked.
Bryant is continuing to rehabilitate his Achilles which he torn in April after playing heavy minutes while trying to put the Lakers in playoff contention. He had originally said it will take him six to nine months to recover from the injury. He recently told reporters that he would need three weeks of conditioning before suiting up which indicates that he is still far from touching a basketball and suiting up for the Lakers.
Three weeks ago, Kobe said he feels like he is ahead of his rehab schedule. "Obviously I feel like I'm ahead of schedule. It's about kind of getting that range of motion where I feel like I can run comfortably. The last stage is really the explosiveness and the muscle endurance and that will come," he was quoted saying by Sports Illustrated.
The 35 year old Bryant is in the final year of his contract that pays him $30 million.
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