Kobe Bryant, right, has been nursing a bruised lower left leg in the last week. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

For once, Lakers coach Byron Scott offered some doubt on Kobe Bryant. It all had to do with whether Bryant will play in the Lakers’ preseason finale against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday at Anaheim.

“90 percent chance he will not play tomorrow,” Scott said. “There is a 10 percent chance he can convince me otherwise.”

Bryant has missed the last two preseason games and six practices in the past week after bruising his lower left leg last Tuesday against Sacramento in Las Vegas. Although Scott has downplayed the significance of Bryant’s injury, the Lakers’ star has not completed any running exercises yet either. But Scott remained adamant that Bryant “will be ready” for the Lakers’ season opener against Minnesota on Oct. 28 at Staples Center.

“I’m not in a hurry,” Scott said after practice on Wednesday at the Lakers’ facility in El Segundo. “I don’t want him to lose his conditioning and I know he doesn’t want to lose it. But I’m still not in a real hurry. I’m not concerned.”

Apparently, neither are Bryant’s teammates. Lakers forward Metta World Peace deflected the speculation about Bryant’s health with a dose of humor.

“He’s not out,” World Peace said. “LeBron James is out. [Stephen] Curry didn’t start. [Michael] Jordan retired. But he said he might want to come back.”

How many points would the 52-year-old Jordan score if the Charlotte Hornets owner made his third NBA comeback?

“It depends how big his belly is,” World Peace said. “If he has a flat berry, I say 20 [points]. If he has a big belly, I don’t know, six to nine points.”

Bryant has averaged 13 points on 45.45 percent shooting and 1.4 assists in 18.1 minutes. But the Lakers have much higher expectations for Bryant, who enters his 20th and perhaps final NBA season. He also will adorn the Lakers 2015-16 media guide with various images of his career wearing both the No. 8 and 24 in a purple and gold uniform.

But Scott has become conservative with Bryant’s workload partly because he played a combined 41 games in the last two years amid season-ending injuries to his left knee and right shoulder. Scott also has stayed cautious because the exhibition season bodes more significance on ironing out rotations than maximizing results.

So will Scott become just as careful once the 2015-16 season starts because of Bryant’s recent injuries?

“That’s a different model. When you start the regular season, I don’t know too many teams where guys are all healthy,” Scott said. “You’re going to have your bumps and bruise. It’s a matter of, ‘Are you hurt or are you injured?’ We know he’s been able to play through things that most guys can’t play through. When the season started, it’ll be totally different than it would be in the preseason.”

Yet, that could become a tricky balance.

Bryant has a proven track record in playing through countless knee, ankle and wrist injuries through 19 NBA seasons. But Bryant has played 55,415 career minutes in 1,500, numbers that could exacerbate the seriousness of any minor injury.

How will Scott and Bryant figure out the difference between the Lakers’ star player feeling hurt or injured?

“Conversations will always be the determination. We have a great rapport,” said Scott, who mentored Bryant his rookie season. “He’s very honest with me when his body is not feeling good and he’s very honest with me when it is. I base it on those feelings.”

But the Lakers argue they could indirectly benefit from Bryant’s absence when the results still do not matter. They hope to ensure the team’s success does not hinge on Bryant’s health or effectiveness.

“We’re getting better even if Kobe’s not on the court,” Lakers forward Julius Randle said. “We’re all young and just trying to learn the game of basketball and get better and build. When Kobe is on the court, he’ll add that extra dimension we don’t have obviously. But with or without him, we’re going to get better. We know what to expect when he comes back.”

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com