Photo Credit: USATSI
It has been a forgettable season for the Los Angeles Lakers, but now things have gotten even worse. Superstar Kobe Bryant is expected to miss the remainder of the season after suffering a torn rotator cuff. This after a lost season last year that ended with Bryant only playing in six games. Last season, he was trying to recover from a torn Achilles tendon when he tore his meniscus.
Bryant suffered the injury during the second half of the Lakers’ game against the Pelicans on Wednesday. He met with the Lakers doctor who took an MRI of his right shoulder which revealed a significant tear. Bryant is expected to take the weekend to decide if he will proceed with surgery or not.
It is tough seeing one of the NBA’s greatest players go through such rough times especially at the end. Bryant is known for also being one of the toughest players in the NBA, playing through multiple injuries throughout his career. However, there is nothing for Bryant to fight for this season and with last year being the last year on his contract, it might be time for him to consider hanging it up. Knowing Bryant, he would laugh at the idea of this injury being his last moment on the basketball court.
Lakers head coach Byron Scott admitted Bryant was one of the hardest workers he has ever been around and believes Bryant will do whatever he believes is best for him. “This is one of the toughest guys I’ve ever been around as far as dealing with injuries and things like that and being able to come back. Everybody said he was done after the Achilles and he came back pretty strong. “Knowing him the way I know him, I know he doesn’t want to go out this way. I think he’ll rehab it if that’s the case and then we’ll have to wait and see.”
Bryant was recently voted to his record seventeenth consecutive All-Star game.
