Kobe Bryant could return to the Los Angeles Lakers lineup as soon as Friday, according to ProBasketballTalk.com.
After being sidelined nearly eight months with a torn Achilles, the five-time champion could suit up for the only NBA team he has known when they visit the Sacramento Kings on Friday. After hosting Portland on Sunday, the Lakers are off until the Kings game, giving Bryant added practice and bonding time to smooth out any remaining wrinkles with his teammates.
"I don't want to anticipate anything," Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni told ProBasketballTalk on Saturday. "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's the time you just evaluate."
The Lakers held a somewhat extemporaneous practice on Saturday in a move thought to be aimed at giving Bryant more time to prepare. In Jordan Farmer, Xavier Henry, Nick Young, Wesley johnson, Shawnee Williams and Chris Kaman the Lakers roster features at least six newcomers that have been added to the team's core since the last time Bryant played for them.
And then there is the question of just how much the 35-year-old, 17-year veteran might be impacted by having suffered such a serious injury. With no bonafide superstar to rely on in Bryant's absence, the Lakers have turned to a style largely predicated on teamwork in surprisingly composing a winning record (9-8) over their first 17 games.
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