Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol said he's ready to step up as the leader of the team in the absence of superstar Kobe Bryant, the Spanish bigman told the Los Angeles Daily News on Tuesday.

Gasol, who is playing the final year of his contract, is expected to be the primary scorer for the Lakers with Bryant still rehabilitating from a torn Achilles tendon.

The All-Star forward doesn't know when exactly Bryant will suit up for the Lakers, but he's nevertheless impressed by the perseverance the shooting guard showed throughout the entire process.

"He has a big desire to come back, but he understands there has to be a few steps he needs to take in order to come back," Pau Gasol told L.A Daily News. "I don't think he's taken those steps. Let the rehab and progress develop on its own. He'll come back when he's going to come back, whether it's a week, two weeks, one month, two months, who knows."

"I'm not comfortable just being a vocal leader. I'm comfortable being a vocal leader by backing it up and carrying the weight on the floor. I can't just be a vocal leader and not carry the weight or the responsibility that I like to have on the floor. That's not comfortable for me. For me, I feel like there's a lot of responsibility on my shoulders. I have to deliver. That's what I like to do," he added.

Meanwhile, Lakers shooting guard Nick Young said he's amazed by Bryant's passion for the game despite the fact that he's still recovering from a major injury.

"He's everything I thought he'd be," Young said. "He's been on pace with it. He takes the game seriously and is so passionate about the game. He studies the game and it's interesting the way he carries himself before the game. Even though he's not playing, he's there early getting treatment and doing the things he's supposed to. Being a professional."

Young, who averaged 13.3 points on 68 field goal attempts this preseason, will more likely fill up the void left by Bryant as the team's scoring weapon from the perimeter.