The Los Angeles Lakers will be without guard Kobe Bryant during their playoff run and could miss significant time next season due to an Achilles injury that he sustained last week against the Golden State Warriors.
Being at age 34, many people question Bryant's ability to come back and continue to play at a high level, but continue to believe that if anyone can come back from this significant injury at this age, it would be Bryant.
One would be Tim Grover, Bryant's trainer, who spoke with WYGM in Orlando with Mike Bianchi and said that he believes Bryant can come away from the injury and have a big impact once he's fully recovered from his Achilles injury.
"Everyone is saying 'can he come back close to where he once was?' My job is to get him better than he once was. With all the technology that is available to us and all the different resources and the training available for this surgery now, there is no doubt in my mind that can happen. Yes, he does have a lot of miles but again, the battle with him is going to be from the neck up. It's not that he is not going to be able to do this, it's going to be a matter of slowing him down so he doesn't overdo it."
Grover has been working with Bryant for years and credits his mindset and dedication and work ethic as reasons why he anticipates a strong return.
"This guy is relentless in his pursuit to get himself better and go after the ultimate goal. That is the point that we are trying to get at is that anybody can be like that. It's not about the physical. In continuing to work hard, it's a mental battle. We say the mind controls the body, the body doesn't control the mind. If you can mentally push yourself through these different barriers that are going to be put in front of you then you can achieve whatever you are trying to get to."
At the end of the interview, Grover was asked the direct question whether he believes Bryant will return better than ever, he responded:
"Yes."
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