Good news for the Los Angeles Lakers as franchise star Kobe Bryant is already cleared to participate in all basketball activities and will likely be with the team during their training camp in Hawaii late this month.
Bryant was expected to be out for more than nine months following his surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder suffered last January.
Last season marked the second consecutive season that Bryant's year was ended by an injury.
Before closing the 2014–15 season, the 37-year-old basketball star was having a great year averaging 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.3 steals per contest.
Bryant was limited to only 35 games last season, and only played a combined 41 games in the last two seasons.
In a report earlier this month, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said they are expecting the five-time National Basketball Association (NBA) champion to be ready when they hold their camp in Hawaii.
The Lakers will open their preseason in Hawaii playing two games against the Utah Jazz before continuing it in the United States.
In a report by CBS Sports, Bill Oram of Orange County Register had an interview with Lakers second-year head coach Byron Scott who discussed Bryant's playing time for next season.
Scott was asked what are the decisions to be made with Bryant and he answered, "I think the biggest decision is playing time, trying to make that as limited as possible and also back-to-back games."
The 54-year-old head coach added that besides that, there is no more decision to be made regarding the 17-time All-Star since he still has the desire to play and compete.
Following two seasons which were abruptly ended by injuries, Bryant's health will likely be more observed and prioritized in the upcoming season which could be his last.
Bryant signed a two-year extension contract in 2013 which was worth around $48.5 million.
