Kobe, Kobe, Kobe. In Unfortunate news for Lakers Nation, Kobe Bryant has suffered a torn rotator cuff. The injury was revealed after Bryant underwent an MRI Thursday morning in San Antonio. However Lakers officials have announced that he will be further examined on Friday in Los Angeles and more details, as well as an update on the injury will be provided.
The injury happened Wednesday night in a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. With just over 4 minutes left in the 3rd quarter Bryant went up for a dunk and finished. Afterwards however, he clutched at his right shoulder while heading down court and soon after checked out. Kobe discussed the possible injury with Lakers trainers on the sidelines, but seemed to be sure that nothing was too wrong (at least to his standards.) He was mildly treated on the sidelines and eventually returned to the game with 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter.
However, upon returning it was pretty evident that Kobe couldn’t do much, if anything, with his right arm. But he didn’t check out…In true Kobe fashion the 5x Champion played the entire remainder of the game using only his left arm. Despite his efforts to disguise any pain he may have felt, it became evident to everyone else that something was wrong.
After the game, Kobe mentioned the fact that he’d played on a torn labrum before, referencing his lack of concern for whatever the injury may have been. And I know we all remember Kobe’s infamous free throws that he made on a torn ACL.
Lakers officials plan to release an official statement on the injury and its affects after Kobe is examined in LA on Friday.
