Appearing on ESPN Radio 710 with Mark Wiliard and Mychal Thompson, Lakers forward Antawn Jamison discussed Kobe Bryant and the Lakers team as a whole. It’s been confirmed that both Bryant and Pau Gasol will return from injury tonight against the Washington Wizards.
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Bryant is returning from a severe ankle injury and Gasol returns six weeks after tearing the plantar fascia of his right foot. Jamsion is happy that both Bryant and Gasol are returning.
“For us – definitely for the better to know that Kobe is healthy, 100 percent, he’s been on a tear all season and just to add that dimension to this playoff push that we’re trying to pursue. Also to have the luxury of Pau Gasol, someone we’ve definitely missed, a big man that’s skilled, I tell people all the time it’s like having another point guard out there.”
It will be interesting to see how coach Mike D’Antoni will incorporate Gasol after his injury stint, but Jamsion says the team really needs Gasol to be a focal point.
“We need to especially incorporate Pau to really make this push we need going into the playoffs.”
Jamison, who signed a one year for the veteran’s minimum, says Bryant is as focused as ever to win a title.
“This guy has five rings, but you can’t tell that he has five. You would think he’s in the same boat as Steve Nash, Dwight and myself, who don’t have a ring and are trying to get that first one.”
While the Lakers are only in the eighth spot and haven’t secured a playoff berth, Jamison makes it clear that everyone still believes a championship run isn’t out of the question. If Gasol can be incorporated into the offense effectively, the Lakers should make a charge up the west standings.
The Lakers start the day with a one and a half game lead for the eighth spot and are only two and a half games behind sixth seeded Golden State.
