The Los Angeles Lakers have announced that Kobe Bryant will be out nine months after successfully undergoing surgery on his right shoulder to repair a torn rotator cuff.
Bryant suffered the injury last week against the New Orleans Pelicans when he made a drive to the basket in the third quarter and dunked it over Dante Cunningham. During that game, he was able to return in the fourth quarter but was unable to use his right arm. He then left the game late in the fourth and did not return.
This will be the third consecutive year that Bryant has suffered a season-ending injury, with a ruptured Achilles’ tendon and a broken bone in his knee being the previous two.
Bryant’s timetable for return will see him back on the court late October, which is when the 2015-2016 season will begin.
“I expect Kobe to make a full recovery and if all goes as expected, he should be ready for the start of the season,” Dr. ElAttrache said.
Dr. Neal ElAttrache and Dr. Steve Lombard were the ones who performed the procedure, which took approximately two hours.