Kobe Bryant will have surgery to repair the torn left Achilles tendon he suffered on Friday, and is expected to need 6-9 months to recover, Lakers trainer Gary Vitti told reporters at the team’s practice facility on Saturday.
From Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles:Vitti said Bryant would be immobilized up to a month or more following surgery. If Bryant were to recover on the short end of the timetable Vitti provided, he could be able to play for the start of the 2013-14 season.
“That’s the plan,” Vitti said.
Bryant’s injury was described as a “complete rupture” by Vitti.
“It’s gone,” said Vitti. “So, it has to be sewn back together.”
The injury occurred with just over three minutes remaining in the Lakers’ win over the Warriors, and Bryant knew almost immediately what had just taken place.
“I was just hoping it wasn’t what I knew it was,” Bryant said afterward. “Just trying to walk it off, hoping that the sensation would come back, but no such luck.”
The Lakers still control their own destiny in terms of making it to the postseason, even though Bryant obviously wouldn’t be able to participate. If they win their last two games, they will secure the eighth and final playoff position in the Western Conference by finishing one game ahead of the Utah Jazz in the standings.
