Kobe Bryant has admitted that he does not know whether he will be ready to return to the court for the start of the 2013-14 NBA season.
The Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard sustained an Achilles tear in April, which forced him to miss the end of the last campaign.
During a recent promotional tour, the 35-year-old told Time Out Dubai: "I don't know [whether] that means I'll start the season, I hope so. I'm feeling pretty good, stronger than I was. I'm ahead of [my recovery] schedule."
Bryant has won five championships since joining the Lakers in 1996.