It’s all up to Kobe Bryant now.
Bryant has been fully cleared to resume all basketball activities, the Lakers have announced. Bryant has not played since rupturing his left Achilles tendon in a game against the Warriors on April 12.
Whenever Bryant plays in a game is up to him, according to Bleacher Report’s Kevin Ding. The Dec. 6 game against the Kings has been floated as a possibility, but it could be earlier or later depending on how Bryant feels. He was cleared for practice Saturday but did not take part in contact drills or practice against a defender.
Bryant still needs to test his ankle joint, which was immobilized for months while the tendon healed. But do not expect an extended Derrick Rose-type absence. Bryant has said he is shooting for an early-December return, and this recent development means that timetable could still be in effect.
