Sport
Major setback for the Lakers as Kobe Bryant fractures left knee
Kobe Bryant (r) in action against the Memphis Grizzlies., Dec. 17, 2013. PHOTO/Joe Murphy/Getty Images
(Reuters) – Just 11 days after Kobe Bryant made his long-awaited return for the Los Angeles Lakers, the shooting guard is expected to be out for “approximately 6 weeks” because of a knee injury, the team announced on Thursday.
Bryant, 35, who spent almost 8 months on the sidelines with a torn left Achilles’ tendon before making his comeback on December 8, hyper-extended his left knee during Tuesday’s 96-92 win against the Grizzlies in Memphis.
He had a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam on Thursday and was also examined by a team physician.
“Results of the MRI show that Bryant has a fracture of the lateral tibial plateau of his knee,” the Lakers said in a statement. “He is expected to be out approximately 6 weeks.”
Bryant’s latest injury comes as a major blow for the Lakers, who only last month signed the league veteran to a two-year, US$48.5 million contract extension.
Xavier Henry will take over as starting point guard in Bryant’s absence, the Lakers said.
Bryant, who injured his left knee with 3:25 left in the third quarter of Tuesday’s game against Memphis before returning to the court to finish with a total 21 points, posted a brief comment on Twitter on Thursday.
“#BrokenNotBeaten,” he tweeted.
Asked on Tuesday to explain what happened during the decisive play when he fell after backing Tony Allen down into the post, Bryant told reporters: “I just hyper-extended it. I tend to hyper-extend my knees every now and then.”
Bryant’s widely anticipated return from his Achilles’ tendon injury gave the team a significant boost, though they have struggled to a win-loss record of 2-4 since then.
Making matters worse for the Lakers is that all 3 of their point guards have been sidelined by injury – Steve Nash (nerve damage in back), Steve Blake (torn ligament in right elbow) and Jordan Farmar (torn hamstring).
Bryant has averaged 13.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists in six games this season for the Lakers (12-13) who sit 11th in the 15-team Western Conference.