Kobe Bryant, Lakers Open Training Camp

Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash did not participate in the full session

“That’s probably the most running I’ve ever done in an NBA practice. Actually, yea, it is, for sure,” Kobe Bryant proclaimed after the first day of the Los Angeles Lakers training camp had concluded. “I’ve never run this much at an NBA practice.”

More importantly, how did his body react to the extra conditioning?

“I feel fine,” Bryant said after the session. “[The coach] sat me out for the last 30 or 40 minutes or so of practice just to make sure that we stick to the plan of I have something left in the tank every single day. I mean, we did a tremendous amount of running.”

Bryant practiced for two hours and 15 minutes, Steve Nash practiced for 90 minutes and Xavier Henry missed the session due to back spasms. Apart from that, every other Lakers player took part for the complete session.

Although Bryant sat out the latter portion of the conditioning, the Lakers’ star was adamant that he did not have any physical hurdles left to overcome following an extended time on the sidelines due to an Achilles rupture and a fracture in his knee.

“I don’t need to do any more checklist stuff. I’m past that,” Bryant sounded frustrated of repeatedly explaining that he was fully recovered. “The physical check points are all done.”

For Nash, 90 minutes without an injury was an accomplishment. He told reporters his goal was to avoid injuries and to keep a close watch on his health—related to the nerve issue or otherwise.

“I think that’s a lot for me,” the 40-year-old Nash said about his 90 minutes of practicing. “I felt great. I could have kept going, but the problem is risk-reward. So, if I go past that, now you’re playing in dangerous territory.”

Everything considered, the Lakers’ first practice under Byron Scott went off without a hitch.

“Kobe looked good, Steve was in great shape,” Scott told a huddle of reporters afterward. “[Bryant] said he felt great. He wanted to go more. Right now, it’s just progression of going a little bit per day.”

Scott said he was confident he would be able to get his older guys well-conditioned without killing them, and the slow progression fit in line with that philosophy.

“[Nash and Bryant] will do the morning practice, and I still don’t think I’ll have them do the whole morning practice,” Scott was already looking ahead to Wednesday’s session. “But I want them to get the scrimmage in. I think that’s important for both of them because they haven’t played a lot of basketball over the last year.”

Tuesday, the Lakers successfully got through their first practice without incident. On Wednesday, Nash and Bryant will have their first team scrimmage.

Contact Us