In Beijing for two preseason games, the Lakers' star told Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report “if today was a playoff or NBA Finals [game], could I play? Probably.”

Bryant suffered his Achilles injury in a game against the Warriors last season, the team his Lakers will take on in China. If he were to take the court today, Bryant's return would have come just about six months after the initial Achilles tear.

For the Lakers, Monday was a practice day and Bryant was intent to get in work of his own.  

"I feel pretty damn good, so I'm going to get out today and try to move around on the court," Bryant said before Lakers practice, according to Bleacher Report.

As Bleacher Report noted, Bryant did not take the court on this day. He ended up doing light running at the MasterCard Center. No timetable has been set for Bryant's return to practice, but one good sign is that Bryant doesn't think about injury when he runs.

“I haven't had any pain or any soreness whatsoever," Bryant said. "It's kind of a flexibility thing, and getting the range of motion back—feel like you can bend without having to lift the heel up. After months of the tendon being compressed, now you have to work to stretch it out a little bit.”

The regular season starts on Oct. 29 for the Lakers, which means it's time to for Bryant to “rev it up a little bit.”


LANDRY OUT


The Sacramento Kings made a shrewd move in adding Carl Landry on a four-year, $26 million deal this offseason.

They'll have to wait a bit to reap the benefits of that deal now that Landry will miss 3-4 months following hip surgery, the team announced.

Landry played himself into a new deal and out of Golden State last season when he produced 10.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. He improved his scoring output in playoffs as well, pushing his numbers to 11.8 points per in critical minutes, helping the Warriors advance to the second round of the playoffs.

Without Landry, the Kings will continue to give Jason Thompson big minutes. He averaged 10.9 points and 6.7 rebounds in 27.9 minutes last season.


BURKE'S BAD BREAK


Utah Jazz rookie Trey Burke has had a rough go since entering the NBA.

One of college basketball's best last season, he struggled in NBA Summer League and fractured his right index finger in preseason basketball.

Now, the Jazz have determined that his injured finger will need surgery in order to repair properly, the team announced. A timetable for Burke's return will not be set until after the procedure is completed. He could be out 8-12 weeks, according to an ESPN.com report.

Burke suffered the injury in the first quarter of Utah's 106-74 preseason loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. He came back in the game to play nearly eight minutes after hurting his finger.


CAVS SETBACK


Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Jarrett Jack has inflammation in his left knee that will keep him off the court for 10 days, the team announced.

Based on that timetable, Jack will miss the remainder of the Cavaliers preseason schedule but will be available for the regular season. Cleveland will have six games over those 10 days.

Jack will be back on the court when the Cleveland Cavaliers kick off their regular season at home against the Brooklyn Nets. He and Irving will pose as one of the NBA's best backcourts, similar to what Jack formed with Stephen Curry formed in Golden State.


GIVING THUNDER


The Oklahoma City Thunder will rebuild the outdoor basketball courts at the sites of three schools destroyed in the May 20 tornado.

The NBA team said Sunday before its Blue and White Scrimmage at Westmoore High School that it will rebuild courts at Briarwood Elementary, Plaza Towers Elementary and Highland East Junior High School, complete with Thunder branding, through its Thunder Cares Foundation.

"When the community lost these schools, they lost more than a place of learning for their children," said Dan Mahoney, the team's vice president of corporate communications and community relations. "The school facilities, including the basketball courts, served as the heart of these neighborhoods, and we are pleased and proud to be a part of restoring these communities.

"We made the commitment from the day the storms began to hold nothing back in responding to these communities' needs. But we have also committed to be a part of the long-term rebuilding process."

Contributors: DeAntae Prince, The Associated Press