Torn achilles for the Black Mamba
Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant will be sidelined for up to nine months after tearing his Achilles tendon. The injury happened Friday against the Golden State Warriors. Bryant told the press that he did this move millions of times, but this time it just popped. Bryant had an MRI confirmed the tear.
This archived article was written by: Travon Langston
Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant will be sidelined for up to nine months after tearing his Achilles tendon. The injury happened Friday against the Golden State Warriors. Bryant told the press that he did this move millions of times, but this time it just popped. Bryant had an MRI confirmed the tear.
A ruptured Achilles will take up to a year to heal, but if Bryant takes it slow and doesn’t rush it he will be out for the minimum of six months. Bryant has previously said that next season could be his last in the NBA. This is the 16th season in the league for the 34-year-old. This hurts Bryant’s career a lot.
Bryant reacted with disappointment on social media after the injury. On his Facebook page he posted a lengthy update:
“This is such BS! 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. 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??
“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…Then again maybe not! It’s 3:30am, my foot feels like dead weight, my head is spinning from the pain meds and I’m wide awake… Feels good to vent, let it out. To feel as if THIS is the WORST thing EVER! Because After ALL the venting, a real perspective sets in. There are far greater issues/challenges in the world then a torn achilles. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, find the silver lining and get to work with the same belief, same drive and same conviction as ever.”
Later, Bryant called the injury the first step in a new challenge. Bryant is the NBA’s fourth all-time leading scorer, and he currently ranks among the top three in the NBA in scoring this season, averaging 27.3 points. This season, he has averaged 5.6 rebounds, a team-high 6.0 assists, 1.36 steals and 38.6 minutes in 78 games.
With only one game left to play, if the Lakers don’t step up as a whole, then the Lakers season may be over with. Dwight Howard in the early season complained about not getting a lot off touches and that the team isn’t at its best yet. This is his time to shine and be the leader everyone thought he could be coming into this season. Steve Nash being injured really hurt the team also, Nash average 12.7 ppg, 6.7 apg, and 2.8 rpg. Nash will not play in the final game against the Houston Rockets and that is a huge game for them. If they beat the Houston Rockets then they are in the playoffs, but if they lose it’s a tossup. Knowing that the Jazz has to lost to Memphis, it is very hard to say.
If the Lakers want to beat Houston, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard, Metta WorldPeace, and the rest of the team has to step it up. They don’t have time to waste, this is the chance everyone wanted, and it’s here so they need to come as a team and make things happen.
