Kobe Bryant's Injury Sparks Late Night Rant on Facebook
Los Angeles Lakers' star Kobe Bryant took to Facebook early today to vent his frustration over an injury that appears likely to end his season, if not his career.
Bryant, 34, suffered what the team called a likely torn Achilles' tendon in the closing minutes of Friday night's game against the Golden State Warriors.
The All-Star shooting guard, who has carried the Lakers all season, hobbled to the free throw line after the injury to take his two free throws for being fouled. He hit them both, tying the game 108-108, before going to the locker room.
"All the training and sacrifice just flew out the window with one step that I've done millions of times! The frustration is unbearable. The anger is rage. Why the hell did this happen?!? Makes no damn sense," the player wrote on his Facebook page.
Bryant, who is expected to have an MRI today to confirm whether he tore his Achilles' tendon, wrestled with his impending fate through his stream-of consciousness-post, wondering whether he would overcome his injury and make it back on the court for another season.
"Now I'm supposed to come back from this and be the same player Or better at 35?!? How in the world am I supposed to do that??" he wrote. "I have NO CLUE. Do I have the consistent will to overcome this thing? Maybe I should break out the rocking chair and reminisce on the career that was. Maybe this is how my book ends. Maybe Father Time has defeated me…"
At the very least, the injury looks like the frustrating end to what has been a frustrating season for the shooting guard. Even though the Lakers added perennial all-stars center Dwight Howard and point guard Steve Nash, the team is in danger of missing the playoffs for just the second time in the 17 seasons Bryant has been with Los Angeles.
"One day, the beginning of a new career journey will commence. Today is NOT that day," Bryant wrote.
Bryant's declaration has received over 250,000 likes on Facebook since it was posted.
"Tough moment because of @kobebryant injury. I wish him a great recovery. I have no doubt he'll come back stronger than ever. #prayforvino," Bryant's teammate Pau Gasol tweeted Friday night.