Kwame Returning Friday Against Detroit!

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">EL SEGUNDO – Help is on the way for the Lakers.

But just when center Kwame Brown actually returns to the lineup remains to be seen. Coach Phil Jackson said that Friday's game is a possibility but a lot depends on what happens between now and then.

Brown, ailing from a shoulder injury, returned to practice Monday - after some nagging - and said the shoulder felt good despite taking one hard hit. He will join the team for today's shootaround but will not play tonight against Minnesota or Wednesday in Portland.

"He's been cleared to do some things," Jackson said. "He'll familiarize himself again with playing, and I'll probably figure out what's the best time to use him in the next week."

Brown hurt his shoulder in the preseason and has been diligent in getting to the team's training facility for rehab. He says he's ahead of schedule and, though he hasn't been officially cleared to start practicing, insisted in being on the court Monday.

"I had to persuade the doctors to let me practice today," Brown said. "I kept nagging (trainer) Gary Vitti and he talked to him (the doctor) for me. Gary Vitti is good at what he does. I told him I was ready. Nobody wants to keep a player from playing.

"I told the doctor (through Vitti) that I felt good, and he let me practice without seeing me. He's going to see me at the game on Tuesday before he lets me play on Friday."

Brown has to be careful that his right arm doesn't get pushed back too far or he might find himself back in the trainer's room. He's continuing to lift weights to strengthen the shoulder.

"The only thing that can set me back is if I get caught out of position again or get a big guy like Elton Brand or Shaq in here to hit me pretty hard," he said. </div>

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