Kobe Bryant
Jan 21, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Reuters/Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Kobe Bryant is all set to rejoin the Los Angeles Lakers after being cleared for all basketball-related activities by team doctors.

Kevin Ding of the Bleacher Report, stating league sources, reports that the team has medically cleared the “Black Mamba”, who suffered a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder which put him out of commission for most of last season.

The five-time NBA champion and 17-time NBA All-Star played in just 41 games the past two seasons owing to various injuries. Aside from the shoulder injury he suffered last year, he also had injuries to his knees and Achilles.

The new-look Lakers will feature new faces in the upcoming NBA season. Acquired in free agency are shooting guard Louis Williams and power forward Brandon Bass. The team also got centre Roy Hibbert via a trade with the Indiana Pacers.

The Lakers will also have young guys in 20-year-old Julius Randle, who played just one game last season due to tibia injury and 19-year-old D’Angelo Russell, who was the third overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. Returning for the Lakers are point guard Jordan Clarkson and combo guard Nick Young.

In 35 games in the 2014-2015 season, Bryant averaged 22.3 points 5.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists for the Lakers, which has missed the postseason the last two years. Los Angeles has a combined record of 48 wins against 116 losses in the last two seasons.

Bryant is highest paid player in the entire league for the upcoming season earning $25 million (AU $34.75 million) for the 2015-2016 season. The veteran is in the last year of his deal with the Lakers.

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