Los Angeles Lakers reject Kobe Bryant injury reports

Kobe Bryant has not suffered a setback in his recovery from surgery on his Achilles, according to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Recent reports have suggested that the 35-year-old was forced to slow down his rehabilitation due to concerns during sprint drills, but the team's public relations vice-president John Black insisted that Bryant had "not suffered any setbacks" in pre-season.

Lakers head coach Mike D'Antoni was also eager to claim that Bryant is still progressing as he looks to step up his comeback.

"He pushed it pretty good, now he's just letting it settle in, then he'll up it again," D'Antoni told reporters. "I think there will be some starts and ends and starts.

"That's just the way it goes. He'll just have to monitor it and he knows better than anybody, so he'll know what to do.

"I'm sure he's making progress and he'll be back as soon as he can."

Bryant averaged 27.3 points per game last season but the Lakers will be forced to cope with his absence for at least the first few weeks of the season.