While the Los Angeles Lakers went through their first practice of training camp Tuesday, a familiar face shot around on the side.

Ronny Turiaf was simply taking another step in his recovery from open-heart surgery.

"I'm feeling great. I'm feeling fantastic. I'm alive," Turiaf said. "I'm working out every day. I'm just doing everything I can to be on the basketball court, so I'm doing good."

Turiaf, a 6-foot-9 forward from Gonzaga chosen by the Lakers with the 35th pick in June's NBA draft, underwent surgery July 26 to repair an enlarged aortic root.