Kobe Bryant to have shoulder surgery, likely out for season
Jan 21, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Lakers 96-80. (Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports)
Oct 16, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) reacts against the Utah Jazz at the Honda Center. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Jan 15, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) in the second half of the NBA game at Staples Center. (Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports)
Jan 13, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) reacts against the Miami Heat at Staples Center. The Heat defeated the Lakers 78-75. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Dec 15, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (8) gets fired up as the Lakers are down by over 20 points to the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana Pacers defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 110-91. (Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports)
Kobe Bryant will have surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder, the Los Angeles Lakers said on Monday.
The five-time National Basketball Association champion will have surgery on Wednesday and a timeline for his return will be issued following the procedure, the team said in a statement.
Bryant injured his shoulder last week and it could lead to the 16-time NBA All-Star being shut down for the rest of the 2014-15 season.
The 36-year-old guard was averaging 22.3 points from 35 games this season for a struggling Lakers team that is last in the Pacific Division with a 12-33 record.
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