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The off-season has already begun for five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant with the superstar heading to France with his family earlier this week. Upon his return next week, Kobe will start an six-month training program in order to prepare for the 2014-15 NBA season according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN:

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant has been cleared to resume running and shooting and will begin an intense, six-month training program next week upon his return from a short family trip to Europe, sources with knowledge of the situation told ESPN.

Back in November, Kobe signed a two-year contract extension worth $48.5 million and will be in the team’s short-term plans as a result. Kobe is hoping that the team is able to bounce back next season putting the Lakers back in contention for a title, but it may be a stretch for the storied franchise without some major moves in the off-season.

Along with the future being uncertain for the Lakers, Kobe will attempt to get back to form as one of the elite players in the NBA. The veteran guard is set to turn 37 this summer and is coming off two major injuries.

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Uncertainty surrounds the superstar’s future with no telling if he’ll be the same player or if the Lakers are able to build around him one more time before he calls it a career.

Fortunately, Kobe is expected to make a fully recovery before the start of training camp while the team attempts to right the ship with a high draft pick and a lot of cap space at their disposal.

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