Phil Jackson says Kobe Bryant will recover in time for regular season
Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers has been limited so far in the pre-season as he continues to recover from off-season knee surgery. The 12-time NBA All-Star, who won his fifth NBA
championship last season, missed practice yesterday. But Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who has 11 NBA rings as a coach, believes his star player will be ready to go when the regular season begins on 26 October.
"I think the regular season is gonna be fine," Jackson told the media Tuesday. "Right now, there's obviously a conditioning and strength factor that are both there. He's working real hard.
He's feeling OK about it. But game shape, not ready quite yet.”
During the Lakers’ European trip this past week, where they played games in London and Barcelona, Jackson limited Bryant’s minutes, despite the urgings of international fans, who purchased
their tickets largely to see the global star. Bryant played just six minutes against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, but managed 25 minutes against FC Barcelona on Thursday. Their game in Barcelona marked a special homecoming for Lakers All-Star centre
Pau Gasol, who won two Spanish league titles with Barcelona before coming to the NBA. The unique situation prompted Jackson to play Bryant a few more minutes.
"He is not ready to play,” Jackson said after Thursday’s game. “He went out there to show his goodwill for the fans and to support his team."
The Lakers play their next game Wednesday night in Las Vegas against the Sacramento Kings. Jackson anticipated playing Bryant for around 16 minutes in that game but nothing is for sure.
"But we'll go some minutes and see how he goes in those minutes, and determine how many minutes [Bryant will play]," Jackson said.
The Lakers' coach is in no rush to give heavy playing time to Bryant, preferring to approach the situation with caution. And that is exactly what he told his star player.
"Just don't push it too fast," Jackson said, referring to their conversation. "That's all. We're doing it just the way we want to do it. A couple appearances on the floor, maybe 16 to
18 minutes are fine. Any more than that right now, I think, is expending a little bit too much."
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