Sources: Kobe, Lakers to make final decision on injury Monday, but outlook is grim
The Los Angeles Lakers and All-Star guard Kobe Bryant will wait until Monday to make a final determination on a response to his torn rotator cuff, but there’s little hope within the franchise that Bryant can avoid season-ending surgery, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
Bryant, 36, met with Lakers physicians Friday to further examine the extent of the tear, and Bryant told associates that it was “premature” to say that a decision had been made to end his season.
Bryant will meet with Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Monday.
Bryant wants to exhaust every possibility before ending his third straight season early because of a significant injury, sources said. Still, there isn’t believed to be a sensible plan that exists for Bryant to continue playing with such a serious injury in his shooting shoulder, sources said.
So far, sources say, the doctors' opinions offered to Bryant have been consistent: He needs season-ending surgery.
The Lakers and Bryant will make the final decision on surgery after consulting with Dr. ElAttrache on Monday.
Lakers coach Byron Scott expressed regret again Friday for the game and minute workload that he thrust onto Bryant earlier in the season. In his 19th season, Bryant recently had started to sit out games and play fewer minutes to preserve his body, but finally succumbed to the shoulder injury Wednesday in New Orleans.
Bryant has averaged 22.3 points, 5.6 assists and 5.7 rebounds in 35 games this season for the Lakers. He’s set to make $25 million in the final year of his contract in 2015-16. The Lakers are 12-31 and in last place in the Pacific Division.
