Don’t expect Kobe Bryant to return to game action any time soon.
The Los Angeles Lakers guard missed his first 19 games of the season after undergoing offseason surgery on his torn Achilles tendon. When he did return, Bryant managed to last just six mostly-underwhelming games before suffering a fractured leg that has kept him out of action for the last 20 games.
According to Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report, Bryant won’t be back for at least another two weeks and perhaps even longer:
The fractured lateral tibial plateau in Bryant’s left knee hasn’t healed yet, even though the Lakers had initially been pointing to a medical re-evaluation Tuesday as a point at which he might be cleared to play. Bryant’s level of discomfort is such that his visit with Lakers doctor Steve Lombardo on Tuesday evening before the Lakers face the Indiana Pacers will not even include an MRI or any other diagnostic procedure to judge the bone’s healing, according to a team source.
Bryant is expected to miss at least two more weeks, perhaps even another month.
[…]
Bryant’s original diagnosis was to miss approximately six weeks; Thursday marks six weeks from that announcement.
And for a guy who prides himself on beating every doctor’s time prognosis—if he is willing to sit out in the first place—this has been awfully rough on Bryant.
Although he will remain out for the foreseeable future, he is still available to the media at various times and recently had commentary on Carmelo Anthony after seeing the forward light it up in the last couple of games, from John Jeansonne of Newsday:
“I called him that same night (when he scored 62 points),” he said, “just to congratulate him. I did say, ‘Well, [Sunday] he can cool off. He had a big game the other night so he can afford to go 2-for-40 or something like that.”
“Well,” Bryant said, “everybody wants to play in Los Angeles. I mean, New York is a beautiful place, don’t get me wrong. But it is colder than —- out here. You know, palm trees and beaches obviously are a little more appealing.”
Weather aside, Bryant stuck to the party line that “players, when that time comes, will have to make the best decision for them and their families. If he wants to call me for advice later, as a friend, I will be more than happy to give it to him.”
“I’ve had those games,” said Bryant, whose career high is 81 points. “It’s such a serene feeling. It just feels like everything else around you doesn’t matter; it’s not important. It’s just a level of supreme focus.”
Unfortunately for Bryant, being reminded of what it feels like to go on scoring binges the way Anthony did against the Charlotte Bobcats is all he has going for him right now.
Looking for Lakers tickets? Look no further.
KYLE LOWRY STILL ON THE BLOCK:
Lowry has produced like a top 10 point guard in the league since the Toronto Raptors traded away Rudy Gay. He is averaging 17.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists since the deal and more importantly, has helped propel the team to the top of the Atlantic Division. Ultimately, though, the Raptors appear to be set on trying to trade him rather than risk the possibility of losing him for nothing in the offseason, according to Marc Stein of ESPN:
Trade rumble: Sense around league remains Toronto more likely to trade Kyle Lowry than keep him to prevent losing asset for nothing. But …
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) January 27, 2014
Issue here hasn’t changed: No team out there willing YET to meet Raps’ asking price for PG who, nice as he’s playin, can bolt in free agency
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) January 27, 2014
VIDEO OF THE DAY:
All-Star Paul George appeared in Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday, and he did not disappoint. The forward showed a great sense of humor that most of us were probably unfamiliar with. He also touched on a number of topics including the possibility of joining the dunk contest again with a little help from Kimmel, a new potential nickname and why he’s had a grudge against Kobe since his rookie season:
OTHER NEWS FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE: