El Segundo, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Lakers confirmed Thursday that Kobe Bryant has left the country to undergo a medical procedure, though the team said it is unrelated to his ongoing rehab from a torn Achilles tendon.
Multiple reports have stated that Bryant is en route to Germany to receive platelet-rich plasma therapy on his right knee. The 15-time All-Star had the treatment performed on the same knee prior to the 2011-12 season, then averaged 27.9 points while playing in all but eight of the Lakers' games during that lockout-shortened campaign.
Bryant ruptured his Achilles in his left leg in April and was given a 6-to-9 month timetable for recovery. The 35-year-old had been participating in some light workouts during the Lakers' ongoing training camp.
Bryant is expected to return to the team early next week, according to the Lakers' official site.
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