Going with some dramatic flair, Kobe Bryant has announced in a video that he will officially return to the team's lineup for Sunday's game against the Toronto Raptors. The Los Angeles Lakers will play Friday night's game against the Sacramento Kings without him.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Black Mamba used his Facebook page, along with the Lakers' page, to release his return announcement. The video on both pages ends with the phrase, "The legend continues ... December 8."

The 35-year-old Lakers star tore his Achilles tendon last season during a game on April 12, reports USA Today, closing a miserable season that wasn't going to end with a championship trophy anyway.

The Lakers were easily swept in the first round by the San Antonio Spurs, who went on to win the Western Conference, but fell to the Miami Heat in the Finals. Bryant averaged 27.3 points, 6.0 assists and 5.6 rebounds a game during last season before his injury.

The Lakers will certainly welcome their superstar back as the team currently sits at .500 on the season and is in 10th place in the highly-competitive Western Conference.

image: Wikimedia Commons