Kobe Bryant to have shoulder surgery
— -- Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant will undergo surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder, the team said Monday. A timetable for his recovery won't be known until after the procedure.
The Lakers said the surgery will take place Wednesday. ESPN reported Friday that Bryant is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
"Now we know Kobe is probably not going to play [the rest of the season]," Lakers coach Byron Scott said at practice Monday.
It would be the third consecutive season-ending injury for the 36-year-old Bryant, a five-time NBA champion and former league MVP, raising more questions about his future. The 19-year veteran has one year remaining on his contract with the Lakers, during which he is set to be paid $25 million.
After taking the weekend to mull his options after Lakers team doctor Stephen Lombardo found a significant tear in his right shoulder, Bryant met Monday with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, another Lakers doctor, who advised Bryant should have the surgery.
Bryant suffered the injury during last week's loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, though sources told ESPN on Friday that he has been dealing with the injury since the preseason.
He played just six games last season as he recovered from Achilles and knee injuries, meaning he will have missed 75 percent of the Lakers' games over the past two seasons.
Bryant played 35 games with the Lakers this season, averaging 22.3 points -- 3.1 points below his career average -- over 34.5 minutes per game. He shot only 37.3 percent from the field, the worst percentage in the last 50 seasons for any player averaging at least 20 points per game.
He also was averaging 5.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists for the Lakers, who are 12-33 and ahead of only Minnesota in the Western Conference standings.
Bryant will have to be replaced in the All-Star Game on Feb. 15 despite being voted in as a starter for the Western Conference, his 17th all-time selection, second behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (19).
Baxter Holmes and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com contributed to this report.
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