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Kobe Bryant has torn rotator cuff

By Scott Allen

Apr 8, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Lakers 110-102. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Lakers 110-102. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kobe Bryant just returned to NBA action Wednesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans, and he is already out with a torn rotator cuff.

The season just keeps getting better for Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.  After missing two games and returning to action Wednesday night, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reports that Bryant has a torn rotator cuff.

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He is on his way back home to Los Angeles from their road trip in San Antonio.

After missing games last Friday and this past Monday, Bryant played on Wednesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans and scored 14 points.  The Lakers lost again, dropping the contest 96-80.  Bryant was said to have tweaked his shoulder in the game and had an MRI on Thursday.

Shelburne was the first one to report the injury but it really doesn’t come as a shock after he was injured on Wednesday night.  Bryant is averaging 22.3 points, 5.6 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per-game this season.

Bryant has played in just 35 of the Lakers 43 games so far this season.  There had been some talk last week of shutting him down for the season.  The Lakers are just 12-31 on the season sitting in the 14th spot out of 15 teams in the Western Conference.

The question many Lakers fans have to be asking themselves now is what else can go wrong?  They may not want to find out.  If in fact Bryant is out with the torn rotator cuff, he will be lost for the season likely.  The next question asked could be has Bryant played his last game for the Lakers?

My best guess is no.  This won’t be the way he wants to leave the Lakers.  What the Lakers do need to do is go after some free agents but who that best fit is remains to be seen.  There were reports that Bryant wanted the Lakers to go after Rajon Rondo, who was recently traded to the Dallas Mavericks.

Whatever they decide for the future it is clear now that the Lakers may not win many more games this season.  Bryant is practically their entire offense.  With or without him though, the Lakers still can’t win many games.  The Lakers are 2-9 in the month of January and have lost six straight, including the two games Bryant recently missed. Reaction to the news is pouring in on Twitter.

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