"I have always felt that I can still focus and play at a high level even through various injuries. That's really just part of the game. When the doctors told me recovery from a procedure could be 12 weeks, I just decided now was not the time to have surgery. What it really came down to for me is that I just didn't want to miss any time 'punching the clock' for the Lakers, given all we are trying to accomplish as a team this NBA season. I am just really excited and looking forward to being there with the guys when camp opens in a few weeks. That is a real bonding process and if I can avoid being on the sidelines for that, God willing, I will," said Bryant.Many will discuss how honorable this is. Kobe Bryant is the ultimate trooper, sacrificing for the good of his team. He wants to "bond" his team, rather than heal himself. The ultimate altruist. He is a changed man!
Are you sick of my sarcasm yet?
I'll be honest in saying that I have absolutely no idea what the real condition is with Kobe's pinky. I also don't know what kind of pain he is in, nor do I know what the doctors said regarding the matter.
But this is getting silly.
The media has been making a big deal out of this since March (or earlier). If this is as big of an issue as it was then, then Kobe needs to get his finger fixed so that he can be 100%.If it really doesn't hurt that much, and he is basically 99% then I think he should let us know, otherwise the media will continually excuse lapses in his performance.
Scratch that. I just came across an article from February saying Kobe wanted to sit-out the All-Star game due to his injured pinky. If it was so bad that he needed to sit out a game in which he would play 15 minutes, I fail to believe it has gotten any better.
The smartest thing for Kobe to have done was to get surgery immediately following the olympics. A 12-week recovery time would mean he would return for the middle of November. He would have only missed 3 weeks of the season!
The Lakers have gotten to the point where they are perennial Championship contenders. Come June they need every last facet of their team firing on all cylinders. Kobe isn't fooling me when he says he wants to forego surgery to bond with the guys. I'm rather certain Kobe could come still come to all the practices he wants even with a cast on his hand.
This all just seems so very illogical to me.
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