<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> That conscious decision Kobe Bryant made to forget he was a Laker? It did help him survive and even enjoy the rest of his summer, but the time has just about come for him to remember.</p> In one week, the Lakers reconvene for the next NBA season having not traded Bryant, as he sought, or traded for proven talent to help Bryant, which was his initial offseason request. Bryant's disenchantment with the Lakers led to some speculation he would not report to training camp.</p> "We have no reason to believe that he won't be there," Lakers spokesman John Black said.</p> Bryant has steered clear of the Lakers' workout facility in El Segundo in recent months, spending considerable time out of town first with USA Basketball in Las Vegas and then on a promotional tour of Asia.</p> He has scheduled a time to show up for his Lakers pre-camp physical examination, however, furthering belief from the organization that Bryant will maintain a professional approach to start the season. The Lakers are set to gather Oct. 1 for a 1 p.m. team flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu, where they will train through Oct. 11.</p> Besides the lack of substantial roster upgrades, Bryant returns to find his most talented Lakers teammate still not healthy.</p> Lamar Odom is behind schedule in recovering from shoulder surgery, will be limited in training camp and might not be ready for the Oct. 30 start of the regular season.</p> Odom postponed surgery last season to play the Lakers' final 23 games. Then he had the tear in his labrum in his left (shooting) shoulder repaired May 15.</p> The Lakers hoped he would be ready in time for the start of camp, but the rehabilitation has been a slow process. Odom also had surgery in 2004 for a separate labrum tear in that shoulder.</p> Kwame Brown is recovering well from his shoulder and ankle surgeries and has already been going full speed on the court, albeit with some discomfort.</p> Fellow center Chris Mihm, who missed all of last season after ankle surgery, is also not yet 100 percent but has no limitations.</p> Coach Phil Jackson's recovery from having his left hip replaced is going slower than last year's right-hip procedure.</div></p> Source: OC Register</p>
He will report. If we know anything about Kobe, it's that he's one of the most self-driven and competitive athletes in the world... he won't keep himself off the court.</p>
The article mentioned Kobe scheduled a physial examination, so that's encouraging. However, from the same article this is discouraging ...</p> Lamar Odom is behind schedule in recovering from shoulder surgery, will be limited in training camp and might not be ready for the Oct. 30 start of the regular season.</p> Odom postponed surgery last season to play the Lakers' final 23 games. Then he had the tear in his labrum in his left (shooting) shoulder repaired May 15. </p> The Lakers hoped he would be ready in time for the start of camp, but the rehabilitation has been a slow process. Odom also had surgery in 2004 for a separate labrum tear in that shoulder.</p> Lamar Odom is behind schedule on his recovery (he's always been a slow healer), which could prevent him from playing on opening night. The Lakers have struggled when Odom is out of the lineup. I'm worried about what type of shape he's going to be in when he returns. He hasn't been able to work on his basketball skills all summer long.</p> </p> </p>
