Kobe Bryant, his injured left shin improving daily, walked into Staples Center on Friday without the protective boot he had been wearing but that’s the extent of his activity. The Lakers star sat out his fourth consecutive game because and could miss more if his shin doesn’t show more improvement quickly.

According to Lakers spokesman John Black, Bryant can walk without pain but has not tried running or jumping. There isn’t any timetable for him to bump up his activity level and he will have sat out a week’s worth of games after Friday’s contest against the Nuggets. Bryant could easily sit out the Lakers’ final six games and return for the playoffs.

via Janis Carr of The Orange County Register