LOS ANGELES: NBA superstar Kobe Bryant has been medically cleared for all basketball activities when the Los Angeles lakers open training camp this month, US media reported Thursday.

Bryant, who suffered a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder in January, appears to be right on schedule in his recovery from a third straight season-ending injury.

His original prognosis called for a nine-month recovery after surgery.

ESPN.com and Bleacher Report cited league sources in reporting Bryant had been cleared to play.

The 37-year-old is entering his 20th NBA season, but it’s been some time since he completed a campaign.

An Achilles tendon injury cut short his 2012-13 season, and a knee injury ended his 2013-14 campaign.

Since he was granted a two-year, $48.5 million contract extension by the Lakers in 2013, he has played only 41 games.

But the Lakers insist they don’t regret a deal that will pay Bryant a league-leading $25 million this season, with club president Jim Buss saying in August that the aging superstar “deserves the money.”

Bryant has said he’ll decide after this season if he’s ready to retire, with Buss suggesting in August that the Lakers would be prepared to keep him on.

“It’s his decision,” Buss said, although he acknowledged that Bryant might have to accept a reduced role.

Bryant has played for the Lakers his entire NBA career, winning titles in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010.

The 17-time All-Star is a two-time NBA scoring champion, and also a two-time Olympic champion with the United States.

Curry returns to Charlotte

Stephen Curry made a surprise visit to his alma mater, bringing the Larry O’Brien NBA championship trophy along with him to show off to the Davidson College community.

The league’s MVP worked out with Davidson players, participated in a question-and-answer period with college students and even banked in a 25-foot jumper Thursday in the first shot ever attempted at the school’s new practice facility.

Curry said, “This is where the whole story started and I know how much the Davidson alumni and community supports me, so this is very special.”

Curry, a big Carolina Panthers fan, said he plans to pound the “Keep Pounding” drum before the team’s home opener Sunday against the Houston Texans. The Charlotte native also plans to visit to his former high school.

If Kyrie Irving knows when he’ll be back on the floor with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he’s not telling.

The All-Star guard will only divulge this: He’s getting closer.

Irving spoke Thursday about his status coming off the knee injury that kept him from all but one game of last season’s NBA Finals, when the Cavaliers fell to Golden State in six games. The Cavaliers open training camp later this month.

Irving says whatever the timeline is, “it’ll be for the betterment of the team and for us to also compete for a world championship.”

Irving averaged 21.7 points and 5.2 assists for Cleveland last season, his first year playing alongside LeBron James. During the playoffs Cleveland was 10-3 with Irving on the floor, 4-3 when he was sidelined.