Kobe Bryant had played what will probably be the last game of this season, and perhaps the last of his illustrious career, but once again showed how he has always been one to go out on his own ultra-defiant terms. Bryant was forced to leave in the fourth quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers 96-90 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans after he suffered a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder while attempting a dunk. Plans to finish out as a lefty werent working out very well, so he finally relented.
After having the shoulder examined and treated for nearly 30 minutes, Bryant wasnt going to look the part of a beaten man. And he had probably sharpened his acting skills earlier in the day while filming a scene at Smoothie King Center for an upcoming movie starring Will Farrell and Mark Wahlberg.
When reporters were allowed in the locker room after a lengthy delay, Bryant didnt emerge from the training room with his shoulder covered in ice, but rather wearing a sportcoat and brown leather Louis Vuitton backpack with purple, furry accents and shoulder straps yes, over his b*m right shoulder. Either masking the pain of the harsh reality that a third straight season was going to end in injury or unaware of its severity, Bryant said the shoulder would require him to ice a little bit, so that he could get ready to play Friday in San Antonio.
I feel okay, Bryant said. I feel fine.
Bryant has been the obstinatesort from the time he entered the league as an 18-year-old determined to be recognized sooner or later as the best in the game, unwilling to accept that anyone was better or that he should have to always defer to Shaquille ONeal.
What would a serious shoulder injury mean to him? Kobe thought out loud. He played through a torn labrum before, even averaged 40.6 points per game with the ailment in February 2003. He confronted countless other knick-knack injuries that would derail others. And in the previous two years, Bryants body has broken down but created a more resilient spirit; one that shot two free throws on a ruptured Achilles tendon and played the remainder of a game with broken bone in his left knee.
The Lakers announced that Bryant met with team physician Dr. Steve Lombardo, who discussed the possibility of surgery. But Bryant plans to delay any decision until meeting with Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
Bryant had recently begun sitting out games and adhering to a 32-minute playing time restriction to preserve his body. Inevitably, the 55,415 regular season and playoff minutes that he has accumulated over his 19-year career came back to haunt him as Bryant sustained his latest injury from simply dunking with two hands, not some violent collision.
The injury is terrible news for the 36-year-old Bryant, who is averaging team highs of 22.3 points and 5.6 assists in a season in which he passed Michael Jordan for third place on the all-time career scoring list and was elected to his 17th all-star game. But Bryant displayed a sense of humor about the setback on Twitter by jokingly telling fans, This is what happens when I pass too much!
The Lakers (12-31) have the second-worst record in the Western Conference and have gone 2-6 without Bryant, including a win over league-leading Golden State. Despite his big scoring games, Bryant is shooting a career-low 37.3 percent from the field and the Lakers have been significantly worse with him on the floor. They are 14 points per 100 possessions better with Bryant off the court, which is the second-worst net efficiency differential for players with at least 1,000 minutes played. Only teammate Jordan Hill is worse.
Coach Byron Scott had discussed the possibility of shutting down Bryant before the season ended and expressed some regret Friday for giving him a heavy load earlier in the season; Bryant averaged 37.1 minutes a game in November before taking a step back last month. But the Lakers have been hit with a rash of injuries this season, with Steve Nash, rookie Julius Randle and Xavier Henry also going with the season-ending variety.
The Lakers have to secure a spot in the top five of the NBA draft lottery to keep a draft pick that would otherwise go to Phoenix, so losing big is probably the desired option for the franchise. But Bryant who is owed $25 million next season, the final year of his contract cant concern himself with a developing draft pick when he would have one last shot to match Jordan with a sixth championship ring. For that to happen, the Lakers would need to acquire a franchise-altering player in free agency or a trade. Given his health problems in recent years and the Lakers inability to retain Dwight Howard in 2013 or to retain Pau Gasol or attract Carmelo Anthony or LeBron James last summer, Bryant was asked Wednesday why a big name star should trust what direction the franchise is taking. Bryant said the Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchaks ability to make opportunistic deals in the past should be taken into account.
Its phenomenal, so much so that the league had to protest a trade that he made, Bryant said, referring to the vetoed Chris Paul deal in 2011. He pulled that off and saved money? What other GM could pull that off? Youve kind of got to lean on the track record of the front office and the decisions that they make. He makes really solid ones.
Bryant admitted recently that he has contemplated retiring after this season but it would be hard to imagine that he would leave the game on such a our note with such a sour team. If he decides to to put his body through yet another grueling rehabilitation he described his last recovery period as worse than climbing Mount Everest the Lakers team that he returns to will be much different. And it will need to be much better to make the comeback worthwhile.
Only Nick Young, Ryan Kelly and Randle are signed to guaranteed deals next season and this summers free agent class will feature the likes of Marc Gasol, LaMarcus Aldridge and Rajon Rondo, who are currently with teams better positioned to compete. Greg Monroe and Goran Dragic are possibilities and Kevin Love might become available if the situation in Cleveland doesnt work out.
If Bryant decides to walk away, he could assist the Lakers and let them use the stretch provision and possibly spread his contract out to $5 million per season over the next five years to give the Lakers more salary cap room to start rebuilding without him. But Bryant was adamant Wednesday that h**l be heavily involved in assisting with the recruiting efforts.
Its a pretty simple message. Its the best organization in the world, best brand in the world, Bryant said of the Lakers. We win championships. Thats what we do. It would be much more than Xs and Os and style of play, things of that nature. Theres no place like winning in Los Angeles, man.
And time will tell if Bryant has exhausted his chances to continue.
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Michael Lee is the national basketball writer for The Washington Post.
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2015/01/23/what-will-lakers-look-like-when-kobe-bryant-returns-from-injury/
