Kobe Bryant knows how to put on a show – even if he is still recovering from a torn Achilles.
Prior to the Lakers’ preseason game against the Golden State Warriors in China, Kobe was getting the fans all excited by running up and down the sidelines.
It seems as though that the ‘black mamba’ is trying to prove his coach – Mike D’ Antoni wrong, (wouldn’t be the first time in his career) who recently said he wouldn’t be ready for the opening night game against the Los Angeles clippers.
Asked if there’s a chance Kobe plays Oct 29 opener, D’Antoni said: “No. I don’t think so. It’s an ongoing process, but that would be tough.”
— KEVIN DING (@KevinDing) October 15, 2013
He also gave us the Derrick Rose routine but putting up a host of mid-range jumpers before than game as well.
This was expected though, as ESPN’s Dave McMenamin recently wrote that Kobe was given the go-ahead to step up the rehab process.
Judging by the way he wasn’t elevating much on those jump shots, I would still say he has a ways to go before returning to a full bill of health. And Kobe retierated this when he told Lakers.com’s Mike Trudell that he’s not quite ready yet.
1/2 – Asked @kobebryant about his Achilles: “I can’t quite push all the way through yet, but it’s coming along fine. It feels all right.”
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) October 18, 2013
2/2 Kobe-“It gets tight, so we just continue to work w/t modalities & making sure we loosen it up & get it going, but I feel good about it.”
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) October 18, 2013
With Derrick Rose finally returning to the court, it looks as though Kobe has replaced him as the warm-up attraction for the early part of the season, however, I don’t think it will take him 10 months to return to action