Steve Nash (back) hasn’t played in a game in two months, and Kobe Bryant (knee) lasted only six games upon returning from Achilles surgery before fracturing the lateral tibial plateau in his left knee. On Friday, we learned that players could be back on the court by the end of the month.
Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni said that he hopes the 39-year-old Nash and 35-year-old Bryant return on Jan. 28 against Indianapolis, right after the team’s 12-day road trip, writes Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times.
“Hopefully both of them are ready,” D’Antoni added.
In the case of both Kobe and Nash, though, there’s little reason to rush them back. The playoffs aren’t in the cards for the Lakers (14-22) this season, and with the trade deadline looming there’s a good chance they will become sellers. If either Kobe or Nash has even the slightest of setbacks in the coming weeks, their return could be pushed back into February if not longer.
