Los Angeles Lakers Star Kobe Bryant Injured: Kobe will be sidelined for six to nine months after confirmed the break in the Achilles tendon suffered in the match this Friday against Golden State Warriors and the surgery will happen by this Saturday.
Bryant suffered the injury with three minutes left in the game that ended with a dramatic victory for his family (118-116). The Lakers physical trainer, Gary Vitti, confirmed on Saturday the serious injury and leading the Lakers to be operated today.
“Bryant elected to have surgery to repair the torn left Achilles tendon,” the team said. “The successful surgery was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache and Dr. Stephen Lombardo of the Kerlan Jobe Orthopaedic Group. Recovery time is expected to be a minimum of six to nine months.”
A ruptured Achilles could take up to a year to heal, according to Will Carroll, sports injuries lead writer for Bleacher Report. Bryant has previously said that next season could be his last in the NBA. This is the 16th season in the league for the 34-year-old.
Asked if the timetable means Bryant will be back next season, trainer Gary Vitti said on Twitter “that’s the plan.”
The Spanish team which militates Pau Gasol suffers a serious setback when they are only two games left in the NBA regular season, with Spurs and Houston, and where Lakers played into the play-offs.
Vitti said it is “overkill” blame the excess of minutes played in recent games by Bryant. The American guard, about to turn 34 years old and in his seventeenth season, was playing almost all of minutes in every game.