Kobe Bryant Injury: Los Angeles Lakers Superstar Plans To Play Vs. Chicago Bulls

Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers are ready for the start of a new season and a new era. And there's no way that a little wrist injury is going to keep Bryant from playing this Sunday afternoon against the Chicago Bulls.

View the video of Bryant confirming his availability for this weekend by clicking here.

Bryant won't have an easy task this weekend regardless. Either he'll be forced to try and keep Derrick Rose from driving into the paint or distributing the ball, or he'll have to chase Rip Hamilton down on screen after screen. My guess is that he'll be on Rose, putting Derek Fisher on Hamilton, which should lead to much pain for all involved in the Laker backcourt. Considering the long lockout layoff, I'm guessing Bryant and Fisher will be less-prepared to handle that load.

Still, it's better than the prospect of Devin Ebanks trying to do the job for 35-40 minutes.

To discuss the Bryant injury, head on over to Silver Screen and Roll.

Kobe Bryant Injury Report (W/ PHOTO): Lakers Believe He'll Play Opening Day Vs. Bulls

The Los Angeles Lakers aren't giving much of an indication as to whether they think Kobe Bryant will or will not play on Christmas Day against the Chicago Bulls. For those who want the bad side of this and a grim sight, check this photo of Kobe's hand during the game against the Clippers today courtesy of Arash Markazi of ESPN Los Angeles.

Regardless of the originally grim prospects, the early indications are leaning toward "probably".

I don't think Fisher or Brown have actually talked to Bryant, but they probably know that when the superstar commits to playing, he'll play, and that's probably what they've seen from him in practice. Obviously the Lakers wanted to make sure Bryant was in good health before letting him out there today, but they seem fairly confident that he'll be ready to go next Saturday.

This is definitely a reputation thing with Kobe, and he'll be sure to be out on the floor if he can.

To discuss Kobe and the Lakers, head on over to Silver Screen and Roll.

Los Angeles Lakers Injury Update: Kobe Bryant Could Play Christmas Day

Kobe Bryant is banged up again. What else is new?

Bryant's injury will keep him out of the final preseason game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Clippers.  It makes sense to be precautionary with the aging superstar at every turn, particularly in a shortened season where there will be little rest and many games to be played.

However, that does not mean he'll be out any longer.

Bryant is known for wanting to play every basketball game that he possibly can, and if the wrist injury isn't hampering him in practice, I'm pretty sure we'll see something similar this time around, and Kobe will be on the court on Christmas Day if he can even be partly effective. Bryant won't miss a game unless he's absolutely certain that his performance will suffer on the court if he goes out there.

Here's Mike Brown talking about Kobe. I'm sure he said something groundbreaking that'll give us some idea as to whether he'll play or not.

To discuss Kobe and the Lakers, head to Silver Screen and Roll.

Kobe Bryant Injury: Devin Ebanks, Derek Fisher To Start For Lakers Wednesday Vs. Clippers

With the NBA regular season opener rapidly approaching, the Los Angeles Lakers were already in a rough spot with Andrew Bynum suspended for the first five games of the regular season. Now, they could be without Kobe Bryant for the Christmas Day opener as well, as Bryant will miss Wednesday's exhibition finale against the Los Angeles Clippers with a torn lunotriquetral ligament in his right wrist.

In Bryant's absence on Wednesday, second year guard/forward Devin Ebanks will start at shooting guard, along with Derek Fisher at point guard, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN LA. Fisher did not play Monday night against the Clippers. Here are Wednesday's probably starting lineups:

Lakers

Point Guard: Derek Fisher

Shooting Guard: Devin Ebanks

Small Forward: Matt Barnes

Power Forward: Pau Gasol

Center: Andrew Bynum

Clippers

Point Guard: Chris Paul

Shooting Guard: Chauncey Billups

Small Forward: Caron Butler

Power Forward: Blake Griffin

Center: DeAndre Jordan

Both the Lakers and Clippers open their regular season in four days, on Christmas Day.

For more Clippers basketball news and information, be sure to read Clips Nation. For news and notes on the Lakers, be sure to read Silver Screen and Roll.

Kobe Bryant Injury Update: MRI Reveals Torn Ligament In Right Wrist, Considered Day-To-Day

ESPN Radio and Los Angeles Lakers insider Beto Durant tweeted on Wednesday that All-Star Kobe Bryant has a torn ligament in his wrist, and will miss tonight's preseason matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers. Bryant is considered day-to-day. 

MRI exam showed Kobe has a torn ligament in his right wrist. He will not play tonight vs. Clips & day-to-day

— Beto Duran (@DuranLA) December 21, 2011

According to the Lakers PR department Kobe suffered a torn lunotriquetral ligament, which to my limited medical knowledge is one of several pieces of connective tissue that link the lunate and triquetral bones in the human hand (two of the seven carpal bones in the base of the hand just above the wrist on the pinky-finger side). 

The injury sounds to be rather severe, but seeing that he is listed day-to-day and the overall toughness of Kobe, I highly doubt this will keep him down for long. Luckily it's still the preseason and #24 is one of the last people in the league you have to worry about being ready for game action. 

For more on the Lakers, head over to Silver Screen and Roll.