(Sporting Alert) — Kobe Bryant is not only on the Los Angeles Lakers roster for the clash with the Toronto Raptors, the star guard will also start his first game of the season on Sunday.
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The Lakers Team: Steve Blake (PG) Kobe Bryant (SG) Wesley Johnson (SF) Pau Gasol (PF) Robert Sacre (C)
The Lakers will be happy to see Bryant back on the court after he went down with a torn Achilles’ tendon towards the end of the regular campaign last year, but head coach Mike D’Antoni will not get carried away with his minutes.
“I don’t think it’s a magical number,” D’Antoni said when asked about the minutes Bryant would play he makes his season debut for the Lakers Sunday night. “He’s totally well and ready to go.
“I think he’ll be limited by his wind and ability to be able to take the pounding. So, I would be surprised if more than in the twenties. It shouldn’t be any more than that.”
But no matter how limited Bryant’s minutes are, D’Antoni knows just having his name on the Los Angeles Lakers roster for the game will give everyone a new lift.
“He’s a big piece,” D’Antoni said. “When you throw that boulder in the water, there’s going to be some ripples. Serious ripples.”
