Kobe Bryant Injures Shoulder: What Latest Ding Means for Fading Legend

Kobe Bryant is scheduled for an MRI on his right shoulder Thursday after he injured it during the Los Angeles Lakers' 96-80 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, according to ESPN.com's Baxter Holmes.

Bryant's toughness, unlike his health, is not in doubt. After converting a two-handed dunk in the third quarter on Wednesday, he grabbed at his shoulder and went to the bench. When he returned with five minutes left in the game, he was clearly not at 100 percent—namely because he was playing left-handed.

"Obviously after I saw that everything he did was with the left hand, then I knew then, let's get him out of there," Lakers head coach Scott said, via Baxter.

The Lakers were already down 88-75 when Bryant re-entered the game, and the Pelicans outscored Los Angeles 27-12 in the fourth to cruise to victory. Bryant finished with 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting.

After the game, Kobe downplayed the injury, according to the Lakers' Twitter account:

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Kobe: “I’ve played with a torn labrum, so I’m not too concerned.“ Says it’s too early to get worried about this being a long term injury.

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 22, 2015"

Bryant managed to play the first 27 games this season but sat out three straight contests in late December with what amounts to full-body soreness. Bill Oram of the Orange County Register wrote on Dec. 26: "Among those Bryant listed as sore: his knees, and his Achilles tendons—'Both of them,' he clarified. His back is tight, his metatarsals—physiology gibberish for foot bones—are, too."

At that point, Scott suggested Bryant's playing time would be handled on a "game-by-game basis" going forward, via Mark Medina of the LA Daily News. Prior to Wednesday's game in New Orleans, Kobe took two games off to make sure he was physically ready.

Seeing Kobe play lefty in garbage time on Wednesday raised the question: At what point is he doing more to harm than help his woeful Lakers?

Clearly, Bryant takes tremendous pride in his will to win and his willingness to play through anything—he famously shot two free throws after tearing his Achilles' tendon—but at what point will the NBA's all-time third-leading scorer say enough is enough?

Eric Freeman at Yahoo Sports suggests the move on Wednesday was borderline selfish, or at least irrational:

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Yes, Kobe did prove his commitment to staying on the court, but he established that trait long ago. The overwhelming impression of his decision to keep playing is something close [to] stubbornness or selfishness—only a player with an inflated sense of his own value would think his one-armed presence essential to victory.

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Kobe is still playing 34.5 minutes a game this season and averaging 22.3 points, but he's shooting 37.3 percent from the field, more than four percent lower than he's ever shot in his career. His previous low was 41.7 percent in his rookie season in 1996-97. 

Bryant had surgery on his right shoulder back in 2003. Twelve years later—and nine years to the day after his 81-point explosion—every injury he suffers is magnified.

"

9 years ago today: Kobe Bryant scores 81 points vs Raptors Second-highest one-game total behind Wilt’s 100 pic.twitter.com/tKugpKPg6s

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 22, 2015"

Even if Thursday's MRI comes back negative, might the Lakers be better off shutting down their star for the rest of the season? Especially when the team is 12-31?

Right now, the 36-year-old legend is considering whether or not he'll play Friday against the Spurs, according to Holmes. But when you're playing on one arm, with a worn-down body, on a non-playoff contender, maybe it's time to think about giving it a rest.

Knowing Kobe? Don't count on it.