Kobe Bryant continued to inch closer to a return, practicing at full speed in five-on-five drills for the first time Tuesday and saying he could see himself returning to game action for the Los Angeles Lakers by the end of the month.
"Yeah, yeah I can," Bryant said when asked if it was possible he might return in one of the team's five remaining games in November. Bryant has been out since rupturing his Achilles tendon April 12.
Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni repeatedly stressed that the Lakers intend to be cautious with Bryant, but also noted that he was "surprised" at how good he looked in practice Tuesday.