Kobe Bryant will have surgery on Wednesday on his torn right rotator cuff, likely ending his 19th NBA season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Bryant seriously aggravated a lingering shoulder issue while dunking last week in New Orleans. The star guard and the Lakers decided on an operation on Monday, which typically requires several months of rehabilitation.
The Lakers will announce a timetable for Bryant’s recovery after surgery, but coach Byron Scott anticipates losing the third-leading scorer in NBA history for the rest of the year.
“Kobe is probably not going to play” again this season, Scott said.
“We all know how tough he is. He’s a trooper, so we pray for him that his return will be sooner rather than later.”
The 36-year-old Bryant’s torn rotator cuff is likely his third straight season-ending injury. He missed the 2013 playoffs with a torn achilles tendon, and he played just six games last season before breaking a bone near his left knee.
His body has finally worn down from the accumulated grind of nearly two decades and several lengthy post-seasons with the Lakers, including five NBA title runs.
After returning at nearly full strength in training camp, Bryant sat out eight games to rest in the past month and played on a strict minutes’ limit. He still dealt with assorted aches and setbacks before he injured his shoulder.
He is averaging 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 35 games, but shooting a career-worst 37.3 per cent in a wildly inconsistent season.
The Lakers reacted to the news with disappointment and respect for Bryant, who was selected for the All-Star game for the 17th time last week.
“Kobe is a warrior,” Lakers forward Carlos Boozer said. “He’s strong, and he’s going to attack rehab like he always has.”
The Lakers also discouraged speculation that Bryant’s career might be over. He is the NBA’s highest-paid player at $US23.5 million ($A29.7 million) this season, and he is under contract for $US25 million ($A31.6 million) next year.
“I think he’s done everything that you can possibly do in this league and I think, at times, we don’t appreciate all the stuff that he’s been able to accomplish,” Scott said. “I don’t think we appreciate how tough he is, all the injuries and other things that he’s played with, to be able to come back the way that he’s come back.
“I don’t see Kobe as the type of guy that wants to leave his legacy on (these) terms. I think he wants to go out on his own terms. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
The Lakers (12-33) are in the midst of another aimless season, losing eight straight heading into Tuesday’s visit from Washington. The 16-time NBA champion franchise is almost certain to miss the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1976.
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