EASILY one of the most athletically gifted Filipino players of his generation, Kobe Paras' basketball career has been in hibernation for two years or so.

That is unfortunate.

Lately, however, Kobe Paras fans got excited upon seeing video clips of the 6-5 high-flyer doing drills and shooting hoops with coaches from TrueFocus Basketball at the Fitness Army Gym in Quezon City.

In fairness, the son of the PBA's only rookie-MVP Benjie Paras looks like he hasn't added a single ounce of fat since he last played competitive basketball in the Japan B.League's second division in 2023.

Still looking as trim and as fit as the Kobe Paras that got as far as the US NCAA Division I and inspired hope of a first Filipino player in the NBA, the 27-year old looked past that but still has a lot to look forward to, basketball wise, if he so chooses.

In fact, Paras is in the Top Five of most PBA mock drafts, his name standing out along with those of Quentin Millora-Brown and Rhenz Abando.

So is Kobe Paras gearing up for a basketball comeback or just breaking sweat?

“No plans have been revealed," said a source of Paras, who last played for Altiri Chiba in Japan's B2 League until his contract expired in March 2023 when he took what dad Benjie described as a "break form basketball."

"He’s training once a week,” the source told SPIN.ph. "He wants to stay in shape."

So that's all he's giving out so far. But let's hope a comeback happens. Kobe is too good a player to retire for good.

Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph