Kobe Might Miss Season Opener

**Mr.Bottomtooth** · 10-24-2006

Opening no-show?
Slow-recovering Kobe could miss start of the season
Posted: Tuesday October 24, 2006 11:27AM; Updated: Tuesday October 24, 2006 1:22PM

Lakers star Kobe Bryant, still recovering from offseason arthroscopic knee surgery, might not be available for his team's season opener Tuesday against the Suns.

"I couldn't tell you if he's going to play Thursday [in the Lakers' final exhibition against Denver] or [against Phoenix] Oct. 31," Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak told SI.com on Monday. "I think in the back of our minds we've been pointing to opening night, but we don't know for sure."

Bryant has yet to play in any of the Lakers' first seven preseason games -- or even go through a full practice. The 28-year-old guard was originally supposed to be out 8-12 weeks after undergoing the cleanup procedure back in mid-July. It has now been nearly 15 weeks, and Bryant's return date is still a mystery.

The Lakers have been saying all preseason that Bryant would play in the opener, but the star guard's knee isn't cooperating. He told reporters a few days ago that the knee was feeling all right, but that he still needed to get over that last "hurdle."

Bryant is known as a fast healer, making this bumpy recovery somewhat puzzling. During his 10-year NBA career, he has played through all sorts of injuries. Shoulder. Ankles. Knees. You can pretty much name the malady, and he's battled through it to stay on the floor.

Is it possible that Kobe's right knee, the same one that was operated on two years ago, is worse than feared?

Kupchak declined to address that question Monday, saying it was best answered by Bryant or the team trainers. But it's safe to say the Lakers are concerned. Bryant has played more games than any player in NBA history in the first 10 years of a career, and he still has five years and $105 million left on his contract.

"We trust his judgment that when he comes back, he'll come back with the understanding that he'll play a full season, not 10 games or something like that," Kupchak said. "He knows his body."

As for Bryant having waited until mid-July to undergo his procedure, Kupchak said he had no issues with the decision. The Lakers' season didn't end until May, and Bryant has said he didn't realize he needed the cleanup procedure until after he had started working out again a few weeks later. It would seem to be an entirely different case than that of Shaquille O'Neal, who drew criticism a few years ago after holding off on having toe surgery.

"I think he had it as soon as he could have had it," Kupchak said of Bryant. "Our season ended in May. There is a period when you rest your body and let things calm down and see what happens. We're 100 percent comfortable with his thought processes as far as diagnosing his injury."