Kobe Bryant Has Torn Ligament in Right Pinky Finger; Could Miss Up to Six Weeks

[CameronCrazy06]

No more headline kidding. It is expected to be reported that Kobe Bryant will not be participating in the three point contest in New Orleans this weekend and following the most recent news that my television just told me, it is highly, highly unlikely he will be participating in the All Star Game either. It turns out that, after seeing a hand specialist today, the Mamba has a torn ligament in his right pinky finger and could miss up to six weeks (again, says my television).

This is a full on disaster for the Lakers (nevermind the Western Conference All Stars) because, well, Kobe is obviously pretty important to their team. What makes it worse is that Andrew Bynum is still about three or so weeks away from returning. However, what makes it better is that Pau Gasol is (relatively) healthy and so is Lamar Odom. Still, that one game Pacific Division lead that Phoenix had heading into tonight suddenly looks a little bit bigger, and the three game edge that the Lakers had over Golden State for second in the division suddenly looks a lot smaller.

Of course, Kobe has not made a decision yet on whether or not to have surgery on the finger (the doctors recommendation is surgery and that would result in the six week absence) which means he could be "back" much sooner. And it's entirely possible too that Kobe feels like he can play through the finger injury for the remainder of the season, since he's played on it for a while, and because the team is substantially less dependent on his offense with it's new cast of stars.

Update: The Inside the NBA crew is reporting that Kobe is saying "I would prefer to delay any surgical procedure until after the Lakers season and until after the Olympic games." (Wow on that last one; and Chuck doesn't think they're making the playoffs if he takes the six weeks off.)

 

[Pugz]

I would say get the surgery...But This team may fade even more if he is out too.
As long as he can play and it doesn't get worse he should wait.

 

[.GR]

Man, tough luck for the Lakers. Imagine if they didnt get Gasol. They would be screwed right now.

 

[DJT]

So B-Diddy getting the nod to replace Kobe???

 

[RipCity32]

Do the Lakers go into panic mode now

All they got now is Gasol, like it was in Memphis eh?

 

[CameronCrazy06]

Well Gasol had no Odom.

Kobe will definetly try any play through it though...

 

[kdogg]

Do the Lakers go into panic mode now

All they got now is Gasol, like it was in Memphis eh?

Naw, not that bad lol

 

[DJT]

Do the Lakers go into panic mode now

All they got now is Gasol, like it was in Memphis eh?

Pfft. They had Warrick, Gay, Miller, Lowry, Navarro...etc. <_<

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

your kidding me, right

 

[dcpwner]

WELL THAT SUCKS!

 

[Sabbath]

Is this a <Censored>ing joke???? My tendon and ligaments both snapped in my pinky and it didn't even hurt at all to play on it. It is your GOD DAMN PINKY. Yea, so what I can't straighten it anymore but it doesn't affect sports at all. Just hurts when it gets cold. These NBA players are such pussies. Even Mark Prior would play on this.

 

[Pugz]

Is this a <Censored>ing joke???? My tendon and ligaments both snapped in my pinky and it didn't even hurt at all to play on it. It is your GOD DAMN PINKY. Yea, so what I can't straighten it anymore but it doesn't affect sports at all. Just hurts when it gets cold. These NBA players are such pussies. Even Mark Prior would play on this.

Umm your pinky helps you when you shot a ball.

 

[Sabbath]

Umm your pinky helps you when you shot a ball.

NO WAY OMG! That's Amazing!!!!!!!! I'm sure that with a "torn" Pinky Kobe's PPG would dwindle down to 0.

 

[GameOver]

not trying to post it how sabb posted it but yeah its the type of injury you can play with the only problem is you wont be able to make a shot as good

but on topic this wont hurt the lakers that much with the gasol pick up all they have to do is bang the ball inside more now the only problem is the other teams will double team odom/gasol more now. hmm i wonder who will take kobes starting spot during the games he cant play in evans or walton ?

 

[Mexi]

Is this a <Censored>ing joke???? My tendon and ligaments both snapped in my pinky and it didn't even hurt at all to play on it. It is your GOD DAMN PINKY. Yea, so what I can't straighten it anymore but it doesn't affect sports at all. Just hurts when it gets cold. These NBA players are such pussies. Even Mark Prior would play on this.

he's not going to have the surgery until summer. he's going to play through the pain

 

[Sabbath]

he's not going to have the surgery until summer. he's going to play through the pain

Well that's good to know. Props to Kobe. It's nice to see one star with a 100 million in the bank to actually keep playing. I mean, his figure could be disfigured for life!!!!!

 

[Pugz]

NO WAY OMG! That's Amazing!!!!!!!! I'm sure that with a "torn" Pinky Kobe's PPG would dwindle down to 0.

Kid I was saying that your pinky isn't useless.
I know you don't need it like your others but still.
And like I said he'll prolly play with it hurt.

 

[Mexi]

"My current thinking is to give my finger some treatment and rest for a few days, and hope I can still continue to compete at a high level after that rest," Bryant said in statement.

"I would prefer to delay any surgical procedure until after our Lakers season, and this summer's Olympic Games. But this is an injury that myself and the Lakers medical staff will just have to continue to monitor on a day-to-day basis."

 

[Sabbath]

Kid I was saying that your pinky isn't useless.
I know you don't need it like your others but still.
And like I said he'll prolly play with it hurt.

Honestly, it is the most useless thing you can injure as far as basketball is concerned.

 

[Mexi]

here's a quote from another site in which the person claims to have had the same injury(maybe even worse?)

My senior year in College I ripped up my right pinky in the season opening tourney. I tore a ligiment, tendon, and had a fracture... as well.
The Doctor recommended surgery that would have put me out 2 plus months and I chose to play anyway.

#1 It will be regularly painful... It hurt EVERY GAME, and hurt pretty bad, no matter if I rested it for a while or not!!!


#2 He TOTALLY CAN play with it. I was honestly just as productive playing with the pain... THe only real effect was that mentally I was slow to stick my hand in on defense at times... and those rebounds that come between players... I could not pull the ball away from anyone...
In addition at times on a shot I would tend to shoot from between my index finger and thumb, rather then having the ball roll off of my middle finger... As it shoot... BUT Its not a hard adjustment if you are a good shooter...

I had pins put in it after the season, and although my pinky looks a little stupid, it was fine, and I continue to play...

I know some of you could care less about my situation, but I am telling you from experience NOT to be worried... He will ice it EVERY GAME, even at half time... and if he is strong minded he will be fine!!!

I think things are gonna be alright. Kobe's a warrior and i feel very confident in him