SB Nation Los Angeles - Kobe Bryant injury: Lakers star plays season openerhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48949/la-fave.png2012-10-30T18:08:03-07:00http://losangeles.sbnation.com/rss/stream/33342072012-10-30T18:08:03-07:002012-10-30T18:08:03-07:00Kobe Bryant will play against Dallas
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<p>It's official: <span>Kobe Bryant</span> will be playing tonight for the <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Lakers</a> in their season opener against the <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dallas Mavericks</a>. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Kobe" target="_blank">Bryant made the announcement on his Facebook page</a> that he'd be ready to go for Tuesday night's game.<br><br>There were concerns that Bryant might not suit up due to an injured foot, but he was able to run in the morning and seemed fairly confident that he would play. <br><br>Bryant hurt his foot after stepping on the foot of a fellow Laker against the <a href="https://www.sactownroyalty.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Sacramento Kings</a> in the preseason, and sat out the rest of the team's exhibition games. Bryant will almost certainly suit up and start along with the incredible starting lineup of <span>Steve Nash</span>, <span>Pau Gasol</span>, <span>Metta World Peace</span> and <span>Dwight Howard</span>. Both Nash and Howard will be making their first regular-season starts for the Lakers tonight.</p>
<p>Coverage of tonight's game between the Lakers and the Mavericks will begin on TNT at 10:30 p.m. Eastern time, 7:30 p.m. Pacific.</p>
<p><i>This story originally appeared <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/10/30/3578762/kobe-bryant-injury-lakers-mavericks">on SBNation.com</a>.</i></p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/los-angeles-lakers/2012/10/30/3578870/kobe-bryant-injury-lakers-mavericksAvinash Kunnath2012-10-30T14:39:07-07:002012-10-30T14:39:07-07:00Jodie Meeks to start for Lakers if Kobe is a no-go
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<figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Guard Jodie Meeks will start in place of Kobe Bryant if the Los Angeles Lakers' star sits in the season opener against Dallas.</p> <p>Fourth-year pro <span>Jodie Meeks</span> will likely start in place of <span>Kobe Bryant</span> if the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> starting shooting guard sits out Tuesday's season-opener against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Dallas Mavericks</a>, <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakersnow/la-sp-ln-meeks-likely-to-start-opener-20121029,0,842738.story" target="_blank">reports The Los Angeles Times</a>. Bryant has been out of practice with a strained and bruised right foot suffered in the Lakers' preseason game against Sacramento.</p>
<p>Meeks has practiced with the first unit this past week, reports The LA Times. The newly-signed Laker will get the start alongside <span>Steve Nash</span> if Bryant can't go. Bryant is listed as a game-time decision.</p>
<p>Averaging 8.4 points and 2.4 rebounds per game during his career, the 6'4 Meeks would provide a sound outside shooter to stretch the floor for the Lakers' starting unit. He shot 45.8 percent from the three-point line in the preseason and is a career 37.1 percent shooter from long-range.</p>
<p>Meeks joined Los Angeles as a free agent signing this offseason. The former Philadelphia 76er signed a two-year deal with the Lakers worth $3 million. The second year is a team option.</p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/los-angeles-lakers/2012/10/30/3578054/kobe-bryant-injury-lakers-jodie-meeksKevin Zimmerman2012-10-30T12:00:55-07:002012-10-30T12:00:55-07:00Kobe Bryant says '85 percent' chance he'll play
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<p>Bryant has a strained right foot and was able to participate in shoot-around on Tuesday morning.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> still don't know whether or not <span>Kobe Bryant</span> will play Tuesday night's NBA season opener against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Dallas Mavericks</a>, but they got good news on Tuesday morning. Bryant participated in shoot-around and said there is an "85 percent" chance he will play against Dallas, <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/mcten/statuses/263348611289587712">according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles</a>.</p>
<p>Bryant missed roughly a week's worth of practices with a strained and bruised right foot, and is said to be a game-time decision.</p>
<p>"Of course I want to play. But we put together a great roster and worked really hard this summer to get myself in tip top shape," <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/MedinaLakersNBA/statuses/263350027953508353">Bryant told reporters</a>, per <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/MedinaLakersNBA/statuses/263350082965995520">Mark Medina of the LA Daily News</a>. "I'm not going to play with an injury that will get progressively worse and limp through the season. I worked too hard for that."</p>
<p>The Lakers are 64-39 without Bryant, who starts his 17th season, the most years with the Lakers in their franchise history. But the team is just 28-29 in the 57 games Bryant has missed in the post-<span>Shaquille O`Neal</span> era, starting with the 2004-2005 season.</p>
<p>"It's just a matter of how sore it gets from now until I get to Staples," Bryant <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/Mike_Bresnahan/statuses/263350244526395392">told Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times</a>.</p>
<p>Bryant played in 58 of the Lakers' 66 games last season, and played in a full 82 games during the 2010-2011 season.</p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/los-angeles-lakers/2012/10/30/3577314/kobe-bryant-injury-lakers-footEric Stephen2012-10-29T15:54:38-07:002012-10-29T15:54:38-07:00Bryant 'day-to-day' after missing practice Monday
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<figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Kobe Bryant missed practice on Monday. </p> <p><span>Kobe Bryant</span> missed practice on Monday and is listed as 'day-to-day' on the eve of the team's season opener against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Dallas Mavericks</a> on Tuesday, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.insidesocal.com/lakers/2012/10/29/kobe-bryant-a-game-time-decision-for-season-opener/">Mark Medina of Inside the Lakers. </a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.insidesocal.com/lakers/2012/10/29/kobe-bryant-a-game-time-decision-for-season-opener/"></a>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Lakers</a> guard received treatment on his bruised and strained right foot during practice on Monday while on the sideline in warm-up clothes.</p>
<p>Bryant has missed five practices and two preseason games since suffering the foot injury on Oct. 21. against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sactownroyalty.com/">Sacramento Kings</a>. Bryant was cutting through the lane in the third quarter of the game when he tripped on the foot of rookie <span>Thomas Robinson</span>. He remained in the game but has since missed time due to the injury.</p>
<p>In six preseason games this season, Bryant is averaging 20.4 points on 50 percent shooting from the field in 26.8 minutes per game.</p>
<p>The Lakers finished the preseason without a win (0-8) and will host the Mavericks on Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. ET on TNT.</p>
<p><i>This story originally appeared <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/10/29/3573454/kobe-bryant-injury-lakers-guard-still-day-to-day-after-missing">on SBNation.com</a>.</i></p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/los-angeles-lakers/2012/10/29/3573644/kobe-bryant-injury-lakers-practicePardeep Toor2012-10-28T20:40:47-07:002012-10-28T20:40:47-07:00Bryant misses Sunday's practice with foot injury
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<figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The Los Angeles Lakers could be without Kobe Bryant in the season opener as he sits out practices dealing with a foot injury.</p> <p><span>Kobe Bryant's</span> status for the <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Lakers</a>' season opener is in question after the star has been forced to sit out practices with a strained right foot.</p>
<p>Bryant missed Sunday's practice and is listed as day-to-day by the Lakers. He suffered the injury late in the third quarter of Los Angeles' last preseason game against the <a href="https://www.sactownroyalty.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Sacramento Kings</a> on Oct. 21.</p>
<p>While Bryant has played through injuries in the past, teammate <span>Pau Gasol</span> is wary of the guard's chances to get on the floor on Tuesday against the <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dallas Mavericks</a>, <a href="http://www.insidesocal.com/lakers/2012/10/28/kobe-bryant-misses-sundays-practice-listed-as-day-to-day/">from the Daily News:</a></p>
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<p>"I have my doubts," Lakers forward Pau Gasol said. "He hasn't been able to practice for six days. He's been off that foot for six days. It's no joke. I don't remember the last time he took that many days off of exercising. It's concerning."</p>
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<p>Earlier in training camp, Bryant missed practices with discomfort in the same foot, but in a different location. The recent injury, however, is considered much more painful, <a href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8566329/kobe-bryant-los-angeles-lakers-questionable-season-opener">according to ESPN Los Angeles</a>. Coach <span>Mike Brown</span> remains optimistic, saying that Bryant is "making progress."</p>
<p>At 34 years of age, Bryant is entering his 17th season in the NBA.</p>
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https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2012/10/28/3569606/kobe-bryant-injury-lakers-practice-season-openerJay Asser2012-10-25T14:43:59-07:002012-10-25T14:43:59-07:00Kobe Bryant could miss Lakers' season opener
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<p>Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant's strained right foot might keep the 17-year veteran out of the team's regular season opener against the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night, according to an ESPN report.</p> <p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> shooting guard <span>Kobe Bryant's</span> strained right foot might keep the 17-year veteran out of the team's regular season opener against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Dallas Mavericks</a> on Tuesday night, <a href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8546809/kobe-bryant-los-angeles-lakers-miss-remainder-preseason-due-foot-injury">coach Mike Brown told reporters. </a>"I don't know if he'll be ready," was Brown's response when asked.</p>
<p>Bryant strained the foot when he stepped awkwardly on a teammate's foot in the Lakers' 99-92 loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sactownroyalty.com/">Sacramento Kings</a> on Sunday night at Staples Center. He sat out the Lakers' loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.clipsnation.com/">Clippers</a> on Wednesday night and will sit out the team's preseason finale against the Kings in San Diego on Thursday night. The foot has been bothering Bryant throughout training camp and has caused the 34-year-old to miss several practices.</p>
<p>While the Lakers are officially reporting that Bryant is out indefinitely, he reported improvement in the foot after a Wednesday shootaround and received treatment during the Lakers game on Wednesday night.</p>
<p>SB Nation's Lakers blog, <a href="http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2012/10/25/3553774/kobe-bryant-update-could-miss-season-opener">Silver Screen and Roll</a>, is optimistic that Bryant will find his way back on the floor for the team's opener.</p>
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<p>"The Lakers have been extremely veiled in their injury assessments this preseason, so there's that to consider. Doomsday scenarios aside, we'll just have to wait and hear what the status is. Thankfully there's still a good stretch of time until opening night, and if the discomfort dies down, this should be a non issue. I mean, come on, Kobe Bryant would play if he had two peg legs."</p>
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<p>Bryant's injury means the Lakers' new-and-improved starting five featuring <span>Dwight Howard</span>, <span>Steve Nash</span>, <span>Pau Gasol</span> and <span>Metta World Peace</span> will have only played one game together in the preseason.</p>
<p>Tipoff for the Lakers' preseason finale is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET.</p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/los-angeles-lakers/2012/10/25/3555774/kobe-bryant-injury-lakers-foot-season-openerRiley Breckenridge2012-10-24T05:00:55-07:002012-10-24T05:00:55-07:00Lakers face Clippers in preseason match
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<p>The Los Angeles Lakers look for their first preseason win against the Clippers.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> will face off with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.clipsnation.com/">Los Angeles Clippers</a> in the Staples Center. Both teams provide what figures to be a preview of two of the premier contenders in the Western Conference. <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8539002/kobe-bryant-sits-los-angeles-lakers-practice-bruised-foot">One of the main attractions may not be available, as Kobe Bryant missed practice with a strained right foot</a>.</p>
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<p>"They told me it was day to day and when they tell me it's day to day, that means that, in my opinion, at any day he can be released to play again," said Lakers coach Mike Brown. "I'll just wait for them to clear him and then he'll be playing again."</p>
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<p>Both the Lakers and the Clippers made the playoffs last season, as they advanced out of the first round after competitive seven-game series, but both teams were knocked out of the playoffs in the second round by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Oklahoma City Thunder</a> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/">San Antonio Spurs</a> respectively. <br><br>The Lakers and Clippers have stockpiled this offseason. The Lakers made a deal that landed them <span>Dwight Howard</span> in exchange for <span>Andrew Bynum</span> and multiple assets, and they also managed to land <span>Steve Nash</span>. Meanwhile, the Clippers signed a great deal of talent to complement <span>Chris Paul</span> and <span>Blake Griffin</span>, like <span>Lamar Odom</span> and <span>Jamal Crawford</span>.<br><br>The Lakers are currently 0-6 in the preseason, while the Clippers are 3-3. The game will take place on NBA TV at 10:30 PM Eastern time, 7:30 PM Pacific.</p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2012/10/24/3542182/lakers-vs-clippers-nba-preseason-game-previewAvinash Kunnath2012-10-23T14:32:18-07:002012-10-23T14:32:18-07:00Kobe Bryant to sit out Wednesday
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<figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant won't play against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday because of a strained right foot.</p> <p><span>Kobe Bryant</span> won't play in he <a style="background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: underline;" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Lakers</a>' Wednesday's preseason matchup against the <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Clippers</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/Mike_Bresnahan/statuses/260841669228904449">he told the Los Angeles Times' Mike Bresnahan </a>that the injury is severe enough that it would cause him to sit out even if it was the regular season.</p>
<p>After sitting out of Monday's practice, Bryant is listed as day-to-day because of the injury.</p>
<p>Bryant was kicked in the foot during the third quarter of the Lakers' loss to the <a href="https://www.sactownroyalty.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Sacramento Kings</a> on Sunday. He didn't leave the game but received treatment during timeouts. The Los Angeles guard scored 21 points on 6-of-12 shooting in the 99-92 loss.</p>
<p>He had missed practices and a game during training came because of soreness in the same foot, <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8539002/kobe-bryant-sits-los-angeles-lakers-practice-bruised-foot">according to ESPN Los Angeles.</a></p>
<p>Bryant's injury wasn't the only one on Sunday. Point guard <span>Steve Nash</span> turned his ankle and <span>Metta World Peace</span> dislocated his finger in the Sacramento game, one that celebrated the return of <span>Dwight Howard</span>, who was out after undergoing offseason back surgery. Neither injury is considered serious.</p>
<p><i>This story originally appeared <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/10/23/3545004/kobe-bryant-injury-los-angeles-lakers">on SBNation.com</a>.</i></p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/los-angeles-lakers/2012/10/23/3545110/kobe-bryant-injury-lakers-star-to-sit-out-wednesdayKevin Zimmerman