D’Antoni doubts Bryant plays in Lakers opener


Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant. (Greg Smith-USA TODAY Sports)

Kobe Bryant is unlikely to play for the Los Angeles Lakers this month, and the team still has no timetable for his return from a torn Achilles’ tendon.

Coach Mike D’Antoni said before the Lakers and Golden State Warriors exhibition in China that he didn’t expect Bryant to play Oct. 29 in the opener against the Los Angeles Clippers.

“No, I don’t think so,” said D’Antoni. “We’ll see. I think it’s an ongoing process but that would be tough.”