Kobe Bryant out for rest of season
ESPN.com news services
Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant will miss the remainder of the season, a league source confirmed to ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard.
Bryant has been sidelined since Dec. 17 with a fracture of the lateral tibial plateau in the knee. He also missed the Lakers' first 19 games while recovering from a torn Achilles in his left leg suffered last season.
In all, Bryant played six games this season, averaging 13.8 points, 6.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 42.5 percent shooting from the field.
Los Angeles signed Bryant to a two-year, $48.5 million contract extension in November.
The five-time NBA champion had called his recovery 'a slow process' during a news conference held in New Orleans during All-Star Weekend last month.
Bryant was examined by team physician Dr. Steve Lombardo on Feb. 21, and it was determined the 18-year veteran would be sidelined another three weeks before being re-evaluated because of continued pain, swelling and soreness in the knee.
At the time, coach Mike D'Antoni said he was unsure if the team would see Bryant again this season.
'I don't know,' he said. 'That's out of my hands. We'll see. I have no answer to that one.'
Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak had said he didn't want Bryant back until he was '100 percent.'
'We're not going to push him to get back,' Kupchak said. 'I don't see why you would. We've made a commitment to him for two more years, and I just don't know why we'd do that [push him to come back]. But if he feels he's ready and he's in shape and he gets the doctor's approval, then there's no reason why he couldn't do that.'
The Lakers currently are 22-42.
ESPNLosAngeles.com's Dave McMenamin contributed to this report.
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