Kobe Bryant is getting closer to his highly-anticipated return as the Los Angeles Lakers superstar this week participated in the team's 5-on-5 drills in practice for the first time since undergoing rupturing his Achilles tendon in April.

Bryant, who was cleared to perform all basketball-related activities on Saturday, said that he could stage his comeback in one of their five remaining games this November.

The 35-year-old superstar admitted that he is not yet back to 100 percent, saying that there are still several areas of his game that he needs to work on, but he vowed to play at a high level once he makes his debut this season.

"I think there are areas where it still needs to get stronger in terms of the jumping and being able to plant quickly and change directions and things like that. Those are areas where you just have to get stronger, but I could adjust my game and play at a pretty high level right now," said Bryant in an ESPN interview.

Lakers head coach Mike D'Antoni was also surprised with what he saw from the 17-year-veteran in his first few practices with the team, but he reiterated his previous statement that they will be very cautious with Bryant.

D'Antoni added that Bryant has had no setbacks and is surprising his teammates with his current form, but the 52-year-old coach said that Bryant needs to work on his conditioning and timing before making his return.

"He hasn't played since April and it just takes you a little bit. I think he surprised everybody by how he did already, but again, it's a little bit different from practice than a game. It's going to be a little bit of a process. But when he's ready, he'll know it," D'Antoni said in an interview with Ramona Shelburne of ESPN Los Angeles.

Bryant, who averaged 27.3 points with 6.0 assists and 5.6 rebounds, is expected to provide a huge boost for the Lakers, who are currently 12th in the Western Conference standings with their 5-7 record.