Lakers Limiting Kobe Bryant to 16 Minutes

During the remainder of the preseason, Phil Jackson will not allow Kobe to play anymore than 16 minutes while he recovers from knee surgery. From the OC Register: “Phil Jackson acquiesced to Kobe Bryant’s request to re-enter the Lakers’ loss in Barcelona. That didn’t go well, and Jackson said Saturday he would talk to Bryant about it. Jackson said Monday one way he’ll adjust that situation is limiting Bryant’s playing time in upcoming exhibition games while his surgically repaired right knee gets stronger. He played 25 minutes in Barcelona, but Jackson said 16 minutes is enough now — which would mean Bryant going for eight minutes to start each half. ‘Any more than that right now is expecting a little too much,’ Jackson said.”