Kobe Bryant Says He Could Play Tonight If It Were a Playoff Game

Kobe Bryant isn’t exactly ready for full 5-on-5 action just yet–he hasn’t suited up during the preseason and his chances of being ready for the beginning of the regular season seem pretty unlikely—but here’s a good sign: Kobe said that if there were a Playoff game tonight, he’d tough it out (shocker!). Per Bleacher Report: “‘If today was a playoff or NBA Finals [game], could I play? Probably.’ Before Lakers practice, Bryant said, ‘I feel pretty damn good, so I’m going to get out today and try to move around on the court.’ He wound up doing his running on the arena-concourse level of MasterCard Center instead of doing any on-court work, but it was still progress as he formulates a better idea of when he can join full practice. Bryant said he has never enjoyed treadmill running much, but he has pushed his work and conditioning forward significantly on the treadmill in recent days, building his confidence. Asked if he thinks about the Achilles during workouts, Bryant said: ‘I haven’t had any pain or any soreness whatsoever. It’s kind of a flexibility thing, and getting the range of motion back—feel like you can bend without having to lift the heel up. After months of the tendon being compressed, now you have to work to stretch it out a little bit.'”