Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant Injury To Achilles Tendon The End?
We are going to see this again, right? Photo Credit: Keith Allison, Flickr.com
Kobe Bryant has had more than his fair share of highlights in a wonderful 17-year career that will certainly end in the Hall of Fame. After tearing his achilles tendon against the Golden State Warriors on Friday, April 12, is it possible we’ve seen the last of Bryant as an active basketball player?
The prognosis for most injuries like this is good, but after a long period of recovery. The Lakers head trainer had this to say about Bryant’s timetable:
Vitti says its a 6-9 month timetable for @kobebryant’s recovery. Asked if that means he’s back for next season, “that’s the plan.”
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 13, 2013
Without Bryant on the court, the onus is going to fall on Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard to get the Lakers into the playoffs. They’re in the driver’s seat, with a one-game lead. If they beat the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets in their final two games, they’re in.
Gasol captured the spirit and attitude of the team with his tweet:
Kobe is an inspiration to all of us. The team is ready for the challenge. Tomorrow we have another big game against the Spurs. #GoLakers
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) April 13, 2013
Bryant has officially gone into surgery and is already thinking about his recovery. If there’s one thing that Bryant has taught us over the years, it’s that we can’t ever doubt him. With the recovery estimated at six-to-nine months, would anyone be surprised to see him back in five?
At least Kobe hasn’t lost his sense of humor:
Surgery prep time. Lookin like Mrs Doubtfire with a jerri curl cap lol Anesthesia next #highasakite… http://t.co/APTcXyDm7v
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) April 13, 2013
Bryant is as determined as anyone to ever wear his No. 24 Lakers jersey again. Training camp in late September/early October might be difficult, but there’s no reason to doubt that Bryant can get back for the start of November and the beginning of the season.
For those who want to play doctor and say that it’s Mike D’Antoni or someone else’s fault that Bryant got hurt, just stop. Was Bryant burning the candle at both ends? Yes. He was averaging 45.2 minutes per game in April. Did that contribute to him tearing his tendon? Absolutely not.
For that to happen, the tendon would need to begin to fray and weaken. That’s a painful thing to have happen, especially for a basketball player.
It was simply a sick twist of fate, a freak injury. Bryant worked so hard to carry this team back into the playoff mix and for this to happen to him is extremely unfortunate.
No matter how you feel about Bryant and the Lakers, one has to wish him well. We don’t want to see him go out like this.