Kobe Bryant has been given the green light to participate in all basketball-related activities meaning the Black Mamba will be in attendance when training camp opens this September 29.
Bryant has been on the mend after suffering a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder which he suffered back in January. Bryant got the injury after a dunk in the Lakers game against the New Orleans Pelicans at that time, forcing the Lakers star player to end the previous season prematurely once more.
In addition, Bryant has so far fallen to season-ending injuries. Before tearing his rotator cuff, Bryant had to deal with Achilles and knee injuries in the years prior.
At 37, Bryant is entering the final season of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers worth $25 million. It remains to be seen what Kobe plans to do after the coming season though focus could very well be on whether he can stay healthy for the entire season first.
Despite belief by many that Kobe could be hanging it all up soon, Bryant did make it clear that it will only be he who can determine if he can continue to play or not. It is not clear as well if the Lakers are planning to offer Kobe Bryant a contract extension after this season.
Before all that talk surrounding his future, however, the main agenda for Bryant and the Lakers is to see if the team can finally rebound after two disastrous seasons.
The Lakers have found themselves on the tail-end of the Western Conference in the last two seasons but are pinning their hopes on Kobe blending in well with the rising young stars on the Lakers’ fold.
That includes attention on sophomore Jordan Clarkson who surprised many be stepping up last year despite entering the league as a virtual unknown.
Then there is incoming rookie D’ Angelo Russell who will be closely monitored as well seeing that he was billed as one of the best point guards from the recent NBA Draft.
Julius Randle will also be in focus, seeing he hardly made an impression last year after falling to injury right in his very first game in the 2014-15 NBA season.
The Lakers didn’t exactly strike it big in the NBA Free Agent market but the team did get some sensible players to help them out.
New to the team this season are Lou Williams, Roy Hibbert and Brandon Bass, players who have at one time shone for their previous clubs.
With the new cast for the 2015-16 NBA season, all eyes will still be on Kobe Bryant who is the lone NBA star the Lakers have on their fold.