Kobe Bryant likely won’t play for the next six weeks, the Los Angeles Lakers said Thursday.
The All-Star guard fractured the lateral tibial plateau in his left knee in the Lakers’ 96-92 win against the Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday evening, ESPN reports.
The injury, confirmed by MRI results Thursday, is more severe than it initially appeared. After Tuesday’s game, Bryant said that he hyper-extended his knee but was feeling fine.
Bryant, who returned to the Lakers’ lineup on Dec. 8 following an Achilles injury, averaged 13.8 points and 6.3 assists in six games.
“You hate it for Kobe. He worked so hard to get back,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. “But he’ll be back. He’ll be back in six weeks, and we’ll deal with it and weather the storm until he gets back.”
The Lakers’ signed a two-year contract extension for Bryant in November for $48.5 million.
[ESPN]