Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant posted a photo to Instagram on Monday that appears to show him undergoing his second "Orthokine" knee treatment - something he didn't clear with Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni, the New York Daily News reports.
The Lakers announced last week Bryant had left the country to undergo a "medical procedure not related to his Achilles." Although the announcement was vague, Bryant's latest Instagram photo indicates he's in Germany undergoing his second Orthokine procedure in two years to treat his right knee.
The procedure is intended to prevent the "degeneration of cartilage," according to The News. Blood is taken from the injured area, in this case Bryant's aging knee, and put in a centrifuge to create a serum. That serum is then injected back into the injured area. When Bryant underwent his first Orthokine procedure, he said it made him "a lot stronger."
Bryant, however, failed to inform D'Antoni of his travel plans. Bryant's decision only to tell longtime trainer Gary Vitti suggests Bryant may not think highly of D'Antoni, according to The News.
"Kobe not telling Mike D'Antoni tells you something about what Kobe thinks of coaches, and also Mike's status," an unidentified NBA coach told The News. "Now if that were Phil Jackson, I would think Kobe would have told him he was going."
Bryant, meanwhile, continues to recover from his Achilles surgery. The perennial All-Star has missed all of training camp and the team's two preseason games. Although Bryant's goal is to be ready for the season opener on Oct. 29, there isn't an official timetable for his return.
He hasn't yet been cleared to participate in contact drills. On Sept. 20, the Los Angeles Daily News reported Bryant is "a few weeks away" from advancing to full-weight bearing running, which is the last step before returning to on-court basketball activities.
Some believe November is the earliest Bryant could return, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.
