Lakers News: Latest Reports on Availability of Kobe Bryant, Nick Young and More
Before we know it, a new NBA season will commence, and the Los Angeles Lakers will begin their journey to bounce back from the worst season in franchise history. Obviously, the health of the team will play a crucial role in its ability to rebound, so keeping up on player availability is pertinent.
Kobe Bryant missed all but six games last season, Steve Nash only appeared in 15 contests, and Nick Young will need to stay healthy, as his role figures to increase in the coming season. Recent reports have provided some insight as to how each of these players is looking as the preseason rolls along.
Here's a glance at the status of all three players for the foreseeable future.
Kobe Bryant
Bryant is entering his 19th year with the Lakers after missing almost the entire 2013-14 season. While he's healthy and practicing, there are still questions about exactly how much the 36-year-old guard will be able to contribute in the regular season.
A tweet from Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times relayed comments from trainer Gary Vitti and Bryant, which help shed a little light on the subject:
Judging by those comments, we're looking at somewhere between 32 and 36 minutes per game. That's not too shabby. In the Lakers' championship-winning season of 2009-10, Bryant played an average of 36.1 minutes per game and was highly efficient.
The most integral part of this Los Angeles team, Bryant shouldn't bite off more than he can chew and play more than the recommended minutes. Keeping him healthy for an entire season far outweighs getting an extra two minutes of production from the team's star.
Nick Young
Young's first season with the Lakers went quite well. He appeared in 64 games, starting nine, and played an average of 28.3 minutes per contest as one of the team's most dependable role players. He averaged 17.9 points per game, and that production will be necessary in the coming season.
Unfortunately, things didn't get off to a great start for the forward, as a thumb injury will hold him out for an extended period of time. According to Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News, Young's return could come a bit sooner than expected, though:
We should get an update after the conclusion of his surgery. In the meantime, Young leaves us with this, via his Instagram account:
Luckily, he won't be guarding Kobe during the regular season.
Steve Nash
Nash enters his third year with the Lakers, but he only played in a total of 15 games last season. Health and longevity have become concerns for the guard, who is now 40, and things began in ominous fashion just before the preseason commenced.
After tweaking his ankle in practice, Nash was considered day-to-day. His status changed after Mike Trudell of Lakers.com tweeted an update from head coach Byron Scott:
Nash participated in the team's first preseason game Monday, which is a great sign. However, he'll definitely be a player to monitor as the regular season approaches.
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