From Dan Duangdao, Lakers Nation: There has been a lot of news regarding Kobe Bryant’s Achilles and his progress this past week. Since the injury on April 12 against the Golden State Warriors, we’ve all heard about the best and worst outcomes from this major injury. In China, Bryant recently told thousands of fans that he’s “shattered” the normal recovery time and is already able to walk and lift weights. However, a June study from the American Journal of Sports Medicine titled “Performance Outcomes After Repair of Complete Achilles Tendon Ruptures in National Basketball Association Players” isn’t so optimistic.
From Kurt Helin, Pro Basketball Talk: This is Kobe Bryant saying exactly what you expect Kobe Bryant to say. Put an obstacle in front of Kobe — say, returning from a Achilles injury at age 35 next season — and you have motivated him. He wants to prove doubters wrong, haters wrong and father time wrong. He wants to prove a silly thing like a ruptured Achilles can’t stand in the way of his ultimate goal. And what is it that motivates him, he was asked in an interview broadcast in China (where he is on his annual trip promoting his brand). “Six.” (As in a sixth ring, as if you needed me to tell you that.)
From Ramona Shelburne, ESPN LA: Los Angeles Lakers executive Jeanie Buss wants Kobe Bryant to know one thing: He should be a Laker for life. “I want Kobe to take the time that he needs to get healthy,” Buss said Thursday in a radio interview with ESPNLA 710. “I don’t want to see him come back any sooner than when he’s ready, and I know he’ll know when that is. There’s no reason for him to do anything that compromises his health.”Later, when asked by ESPNLosAngeles.com to expand on that comment, Buss said, “Kobe is part of the Laker family and he always will be. There’s not many players who play 18-19 years with the same franchise, and it’s important to us that he has a chance to play his entire career with the Lakers.”
From Ben Golliver, Sports Illustrated: Shortly after suffering a season-ending Achilles injury, Kobe Bryant vowed that he would be “Coach Vino” during the Lakers’ playoff run. He briefly tweeted up a storm of advice for his teammates before coach Mike D’Antoni told reporters that Bryant was merely a “fan,” a suggestion that Bryant laughed off. Shortly thereafter, the five-time champion decided to stop tweeting during games so that he wouldn’t be a distraction. A new video from Bryant’s 2013 tour of China shows the 15-time All-Star back in a coaching role, giving both advice and critiques to a group of Chinese players. The hook: Bryant, whose tireless work ethic has been well-chronicled over the years, wakes up the players for an early, early morning training session.
Charles Bourgault says
Kobe is the ultimate competitor and I have no doubt he will be ready to play.