Kobe Bryant Says He’s Far Ahead of Rehab Schedule

According to Kobe Bryant and his surgeon, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard is recovering quicker and better from a torn Achilles tendon than anyone had anticipated. And even though Kobe is a month away from taking part in full basketball-related activities, doctor Robert Klapper tweeted that that he expects him to suit up in the season opener. Per the LA Times: “Kobe Bryant said his Achilles’ tendon injury is healing at a faster pace than doctors expected. ‘I’m far ahead, far ahead,’ Bryant said Wednesday at his summer camp at UC Santa Barbara. ‘Surprisingly so, but really ahead of schedule.’ Bryant said he expects to be more aggressive with his conditioning by mid-August, which would put him at four months after his surgery. ‘I can shoot, but they’d just rather me not,’ Bryant said. ‘And there’s no reason to rush it, so I’d rather just wait and let the tendon strengthen and completely heal and go from there.’ Bryant said he devotes hours each day to getting his tendon stronger. ‘It’s about three hours, sometimes four, depending on the day,’ Bryant said. ‘It consists of weight training manual therapy, modalities, doing the elliptical.’ Bryant is expected to need six to nine months before he can return. If Bryant needs only the minimum six months, he could potentially start playing midway through training camp. […] ‘Kobe to be at full activity in 4 weeks. That means no restrictions but later stages of tendon recovery still remain. Will see him at Game 1.'”