Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant is getting closer to returning to on-court activities. Bryant is "a few weeks away" from advancing to full-weight bearing running, which is the last phase before resuming basketball activities, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
Bryant appears to be on track to play in the season opener on Oct. 29 against the Clippers, although there isn't yet a projected return date.
"He's doing well and has had no setbacks," Lakers trainer Gary Vitti said on Thursday, via The Daily News. "He'll be ready when he's ready. Nobody has a crystal ball on this thing."
Once Bryant is able to complete full-weight bearing running drills, which Vitti anticipates could be as early as "a few weeks," the 35-year-old can proceed to on-court basketball activities. The next step, barring any setbacks, would be returning to the Lakers' lineup.
Still, Lakers spokesman John Black said Bryant recovering from the Achilles tendon surgery is just one component of Bryant making a full return.
"One of the key issues is to make sure he builds up strength and endurance not only in his Achilles but also in his legs, knees, back and core," Black told the L.A. Times on Monday.
Bryant returning in top shape is vital to Vitti and his staff. They've already taken steps to integrate strength-building activities into his rehab that focus on those areas.
"He doesn't have injuries in the rest of his body," Vitti said. "When a guy has been out for a long time, that neuromuscular system shuts down and the nerves don't fire the muscles in the right pattern in the right way.
"We have to get this whole thing working again. Think of him as a Ferrari. He's a machine. If those pistons aren't firing in the right position and in the right pattern, the timing is off. Other structures can be taking loads that aren't built for that. The rehab is not directly solely to the Achilles tendon."
Bryant isn't expected to participate in preseason, but his goal of returning for the season opener appears to be intact.
"You can't get ahead of the game on this thing, but you can get behind," said Vitti. "He never got behind."
