Thursday, the Lakers announced that Kobe Bryant has a torn rotator cuff and will require surgery. According to ESPN Los Angeles reporter Ramona Shelburne, surgery means that Kobe will shut it down for the remainder of the season. The Lakers, she says, are preparing to be without Bryant for the rest of the year. Via Twitter:
Final word from the doctor today is still to come, but I'm told the Lakers are expecting Kobe to miss the rest of this season.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) January 23, 2015
This process will takea few days to play out. Still considering all options before making final plan. Kobe still has more Dr. appointments
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) January 23, 2015
Kobe has a "significant" tear in his rotator cuff. Surgery recommended but he wants to research & think this weekend before final decision.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) January 23, 2015
Kobe has at least one more doctor's appointment & he's the type to exhaust all options. But team was told today to expect to be w/out him
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) January 23, 2015
All that being said, Shelburne reported yesterday that this news would, if anything, indicate Kobe is coming back next year, not retiring:
No fear w/in Lakers at this time that Kobe retires. If anything, the opposite is true. He's more likely to come back next year bc of this
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) January 23, 2015