Sport
L.A. Lakers’ Kobe Bryant injured again – suffers torn rotator cuff
“I felt fine when I went up, and didn’t feel too good when I came down,” he said.
Bryant downplayed the injury immediately after the game, apparently suspecting he had a torn labrum in his shoulder. Bryant has played through similar injuries before.
But the superstar’s famed ability to play through pain has been seriously challenged in the past three seasons, ever since he tore his Achilles tendon in April 2013.
Bryant is the third-leading scorer in NBA history but had played in just six games over the previous 18 months before this season began after recovering from those two major leg injuries.
Bryant has sat out 8 games in the past month strictly to rest, and he has played recent games under a stringent minutes limit. The Lakers have acknowledged discussions about limiting his minutes even more severely down the stretch for the last-place club, which, at 12-31, is highly unlikely to make a playoff run.
Scott has said he is attempting to preserve his superstar through the length of his contract, which extends to next season.
Bryant is the NBA’s highest-paid player this season, making $23.5 million this year and $25 million next.
Bryant is averaging 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game while making only 37.2 percent of his shots.
The Lakers already have lost three key players for the entire year. Guard Steve Nash was ruled out with back problems in training camp, while rookie first-round pick Julius Randle broke his leg on opening night. Swingman Xavier Henry tore his Achilles tendon in November and was subsequently waived.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press
