After only five months from tearing his Achilles Kobe Bryant is back on the court with the Lakers, literally speaking. While he’s not dominating his teammates in practice, he is doing some light jogging and taking set shots. Though he is progressing well, it doesn’t seem that he will be ready for the season opener that is in a few weeks.
Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni gave an update on Kobe’s recovery:
He just keeps progressing. He was out today shooting a little bit and jogging. He just keeps getting better. He’s going up on his tiptoes. I don’t think he was jumping, but it wasn’t flatfooted. It was set shooting.”
Kobe’s rehab previously relied heavily on him running on a gravity treadmill which alters his body weight, putting less stress on the repaired ankle. Quite the speedy rehabilitation for a 35-year-old basketball player.