Kobe Bryant Injury: Updates on Lakers Star's Back and Return
Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant missed games against the Orlando Magic on Nov. 10 and Miami Heat on Nov. 11 with a sore back. He returned to the lineup on Nov. 13.
Continue for updates.
Bryant Active vs. Mavericks
Friday, Nov. 13
Mike Trudell of Lakers.com announced Bryant will play against Dallas.
Kobe's Injuries Don't Overly Hinder Lakers
Since 2013 alone, Bryant has suffered a torn Achilles, a fractured lateral tibial plateau in his left knee and a torn rotator cuff. An NBA player in his prime playing years would struggle to recover from all of that. Bryant, on the other hand, is in his mid-30s, with more than 55,000 regular-season and playoff minutes under his belt.
You can also question how much value Bryant still offers the Lakers. According to NBA.com, Los Angeles had a minus-12.2 net rating when he was on the court last year, compared to minus-4.9 with him off it. Even in 2012-13—Bryant's last healthy season—his impact wasn't all that significant: a 2.7 net rating with him on the court and a minus-0.6 rating without him.
The problem for the Lakers is that Bryant continues to be a focal point of the team, despite the fact his skills have diminished.
For that reason, any upcoming injuries and his absence may not have a significant impact on Los Angeles. The Lakers aren't making the playoffs this year, and without Bryant, young players like Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle and D'Angelo Russell would have a little more freedom on the court.
Plus, the addition of Lou Williams in the offseason gave L.A. a veteran scorer at 2-guard it lacked last season. At this stage of Bryant's career, the difference between he and Williams isn't all that large.
