Injured Kobe unsure about All-Star game
February 9, 2010
LOS ANGELES (AP)—Kobe Bryant(notes) isn’t sure if he’ll play in this weekend’s NBAAll-Star game in Dallas because of his sore left ankle.
Bryant missed his second consecutive game Monday night against San Antonio,which lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 101-89.
“If I’m not able to play, I won’t play. But I’m healthy, I will,” he said.
Bryant said he can’t push off on his left foot.
“I can’t move to play. Can’t go,” he said, adding he would be a game-timedecision Wednesday at Utah. “If I’m ready to go, I’ll play.”
Lakers trainer Gary Vitti would like Bryant to rest through All-Starweekend, capped by Sunday’s game. Bryant said he couldn’t commit either way.
“I don’t know what it’s going to look like on Sunday. I’m notclairvoyant,” he said, laughing.
Bryant stayed in the lockerroom to get treatment Monday night.
“It’s frustrating. I’m not used to this. I don’t know what the hell playersare supposed to do back here,” he said. “I don’t know what’s going on half thetime.”
Bryant’s streak of 235 consecutive games played ended Saturday when he satout the Lakers’ first win at Portland since 2005. He said his reputation forbeing a warrior who refuses to shut it down is overblown.
“I’m not an idiot. I’m not going to run through a wall just to run througha wall,” he said. “If it’s an injury where I feel like I can play through itand have it heal while I’m playing, then I’ll play. But if it’s the type ofinjury where it’s going to get worse when I play, then I won’t.”
Asked what percentage he needed to be at to play again, Bryant said, “If Ican move, I’m good. If I can move and get to the basket, I’m good.”
Bryant originally sprained his ankle on Jan. 29 in Philadelphia. Heaggravated it last week against Charlotte when teammate Lamar Odom(notes) stepped onhis foot.
Already this season, he’s been playing through a fracture of his right indexfinger.
Andrew Bynum(notes) missed Monday night’s game because of a bruised right hip.