Kobe Bryant is back is "back on the court" and "shooting shots" as he inches closer to returning from the offseason Achille surgery that has sidelined him all season.
"He's progressing," coach Mike D'Antoni told the L.A. Times. "I think he's on the court a little bit now, taking shots and stuff. He keeps getting better."
According to the newspaper, Bryant has been doing "tippy-toe" set shots as far back as when the team ventured to China for an exhibition game a month ago. As his workouts have intensified, Bryant has refrained from talking with reporters for more than week now.
"I haven't heard back that he's ready to practice or anything like that," said D'Antoni. "He's still progressing and I think it's better than yesterday, but I don't know yet."
D'Antoni stressed that there is still no timetable for Bryant's return. Ditto for one-time running mate Steve Nash, who The Times reported did some light shooting on Friday but still is at least a week away from returning from the nerve aggravation in his back.
The Lakers are off to a 4-6 start with a makeshift lineup that thus far has heavily relied on such journeymen as Xavier Henry, Wesley Johnson and Jordan Farmer, all of whom seem to have found their NBA legs in D'Antoni's high-octane offense.
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