Lakers Gasol cleared to resume practicing

Los Angeles Lakers' Pau Gasol of Spain waits for a photo shoot during the NBA basketball team's media day in Los Angeles, September 29, 2009.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol, who has yet to play this season due to injury, has been cleared to resume practicing with the team, the Spanish forward announced on Wednesday.

Gasol has been sidelined due to a strained right hamstring but has undergone private workouts as the injury improved.

"I'm taking it day by day to see how it feels," Gasol told reporters, adding that he had not targeted a return date.

"It's not just conditioning, it's how the hamstring responds to the added workload."

Gasol averaged 18.9 points and 9.6 rebounds last season before helping the Lakers to the NBA title. Los Angeles have started the season 4-1 but have missed their talented 7-footer, who forms a dynamic scoring partnership with Kobe Bryant.

"We'd like to get him back Friday (against the Memphis Grizzlies) if that's possible -- I don't know if it is," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson. "We have no expectation. We're not concerned, things look good."

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Rutherford)