Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant might make his season debut on Friday against the Sacramento Kings. Steve Nash, meanwhile, is expected to participate in practice on Tuesday as he continues to struggle with nerve root issues.
The Lakers have four days without any games before they travel on Friday to Sacramento. Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni admitted Bryant could play on Friday for the first time since April 12, depending on how the 35-year-old's body feels at the end of the week.
"I don't want to anticipate anything," D'Antoni said on Saturday, via ESPN. "Those are days that he can work and see, re-evaluate how he feels after the three days and then make a decision going forward.
"That doesn't mean he will play Friday, doesn't mean he won't. But that's the time you just evaluate, and I can't tell you what type of evaluation that will be."
Bryant playing again would be a boost to the 9-9 Lakers, especially given Pau Gasol and Jordan Hill's ankle injuries, but he is expected to face minute-restrictions upon his return.
"There will probably be something," D'Antoni acknowledged on Sunday, according to the L.A. Times. "His conditioning will limit most of it."
The possibility of Bryant sitting for one game during back-to-backs hasn't been ruled out either.
"That would come from inside [the medical department] and him and whatever they tell me," said D'Antoni. "If that's a restriction, then they'll tell me."
Bryant appears set to practice on Tuesday, the first of the Lakers' three scheduled practices before Sacramento. He hasn't practiced with the team since experiencing soreness in his left foot two weeks ago, according to The Times.
D'Antoni also expects Nash to practice on Tuesday. The 39-year-old veteran spent last week in Vancouver on a rehab assignment with his personal trainer. Nash, who's dealing with nerve damage stemming from breaking his leg last season, hasn't played since Nov. 10.
"I think he made some improvement but we'll see," said D'Antoni.
