Pau Gasol impressed by Kobe Bryant’s relatively quick return

Pau Gasol is still trying to figure it out.

How did Kobe Bryant get from lying around on a training table to being a productive player at Lakers practice?

“I didn’t expect him to do this much this quick. I guess I didn’t have a chance to see what he’s been able to do on his own,� Gasol said.

Bryant practiced Wednesday for a second consecutive day, continuing his comeback from a torn Achilles’ tendon. There is still no timetable for his return but he is not expected to play Friday against Golden State.

Bryant didn’t start with one-on-one drills or two-on-twos at the Lakers’ training facility, standard fare for athletes coming back from serious injuries, Gasol said. He basically went right to five-on-five scrimmaging, bucking the usual trend.

“That’s what’s been surprising,� Gasol said. “He comes in with a lot of energy and a lot of great attitude and just hunger. He’s hungry to prove himself, to get back on the floor, to play ball and help us be a better team.�

Bryant teased his Twitter followers two weeks ago by hash-tagging the phrase “blackout,� referring to his infamous individual workouts that make him almost pass out. Gasol’s theory: Bryant was doing plenty of work on his own, away from the Lakers facility.

“Otherwise, there’s no other explanation for him to be able to go from running on a treadmill and on the floor to actually play five-on-five,� Gasol said. “There’s certain steps you can’t really skip to be able to feel comfortable and effective out there.�

Bryant was injured seven months ago and was comfortably within the parameters of a timetable that said he would return in six to nine months.

Gasol didn’t see any of his individual workouts.

“I must have missed them,� he said, smiling. “He’s a guy that’s 24-7 committed to work and always working out at crazy hours. That’s just who he is. I’m sure he’s been able to do a lot of individual work when we haven’t been around.�

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