Mike D'Antoni and Steve Nash
Lakers head coach Mike D'Antoni and point guard Steve NashReuters

The Los Angeles Lakers were boosted by the return of Kobe Bryant to the team after the veteran travelled to Germany to undergo treatment on his right knee.

Bryant has been out of the game since April, and is still recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, with his return date still up in the air.

The Los Angeles Lakers head into the NBA preseason game against the Sacramento Kings hoping that Bryant will be ready for the start of regular season at the end of the month.

"I just keep it all open right now," Bryant was quoted as saying by ESPN before joining the Lakers on their flight to Las Vegas for a preseason game. "I don't know why you guys are so hell-bent on timelines. It's like the most ridiculous thing to me. It's entertaining. When I'm ready, I'm ready.

"I do a lot of calf raises during the day, just trying to get it as strong as possible and constantly pushing the flexibility of it, the mobility.

"I need to get my fat ass in shape. Six months of eating whatever the hell I wanted to eat and not running has caught up to me a little bit. So, I got to get in shape."

The Lakers open their regular season campaign against the Los Angeles Clippers on October 29, and Bryant said he will return when he starts to feel comfortable on the court.

"I'll be happy when I'm able to be out there on the floor and do what I do best," Bryant said. "All this right now is just a process to try to get to that point."

"It's the explosiveness, the explosiveness and the muscle endurance which takes a little time," said Bryant.

"(When) I feel comfortable," Bryant said. "I'll feel comfortable getting out there and jumping and I won't feel like I have 'Bambi' legs or anything like that where my mobility is limited when taking off. So, I'll know then."

The Lakers are 2-1 in preseason, and are looking for some kind of rhythm heading into the regular season, with the Kings, who have lost their lone preseason encounter, expected to give them a decent workout and probably a bit of a confidence-boost as well.

Where to watch

The game is scheduled for a 7.30 am (IST) start with no live telecast scheduled.