Oh no! What at first seemed liked a minor injury for Kobe Bryant is now a full-fledged basketball nightmare. According to the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe has a torn right rotator cuff—an injury he suffered on a baseline dunk in last night’s game against the Pelicans.
Update: Kobe Bryant had an MRI exam, preliminary results show a tear of the rotator cuff. He will fly back to LA. pic.twitter.com/EOZTuuKjoL
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 22, 2015
A rotator cuff injury is tricky and recovery could take as long as a year or as short as three months. Surgery isn’t always the answer but as Serena Winters of Lakers Nation reports, that’s likely where Kobe is headed.
It is true some rotator cuff tears don't require surgery. However, surgery common in athletes (overhead activity) & Kobe's is shooting arm..
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) January 22, 2015
So obviously the question becomes, “is this the end of Kobe Bryant’s career?” He hinted at retirement just last week and now, with this injury, who knows. If so, it’s a terrible way to go out.
PHOTO: USA TODAY SPORTS / Derick E. Hingle
