Kobe Bryant out 9 months
— -- Kobe Bryant underwent surgery Wednesday morning to repair the torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder, the Los Angeles Lakers announced.
Bryant will be out about nine months and will miss the rest of this season.
"I expect Kobe to make a full recovery and if all goes as expected, he should be ready for the start of the season," said Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who, along with Dr. Steve Lombardo, performed the two-hour surgery in Los Angeles.
Bryant seriously aggravated a lingering shoulder ache while dunking last week in New Orleans. He and the Lakers decided Monday on the surgery, which ends his 19th season.
Lakers coach Byron Scott emphasized Wednesday that he expects the 36-year-old to return next season.
"In my mind right now, he's coming back next year, unless he tells me something different," Scott said.
Of Bryant's impending rehabilitation, Scott said, "It's pretty painful from what I've heard, and the rehab is long."
Bryant saw his previous two seasons cut short by Achilles and knee injuries.
"But I think the biggest thing with Kobe, as long as [the media are] saying that he's done, he's going to come back," Scott said. "I think he proved his point this year that he still has a lot left in the tank. He's still one of the best players in the league."
ESPN.com's Baxter Holmes and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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