Kobe out 9 months after shoulder surgery

Bryant undergoes successful shoulder surgery

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, who injured his right shoulder in last Wednesday night's game against the Pelicans in New Orleans, underwent a successful surgery Wednesday morning to repair a torn rotator cuff. The approximately two-hour procedure was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache and Dr. Steve Lombardo at the Kerlan Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles.

Bryant, who is expected to make a full recovery, will be out for approximately nine months.

"I expect Kobe to make a full recovery and if all goes as expected, he should be ready for the start of the season," said ElAttrache.

And so, an injury has officially ended Kobe Bryant's season for the third straight year.

From all accounts, it sounds like he's ready to give it another go next year and return for the final year of his contract, though he's also started mentioning retirement more often. It's not completely unthinkable that he chooses to hang it up, especially if a successful return next year requires accepting a much smaller role and even more limited minutes.

Does anyone see him retiring? If not, what kind of role and minutes do you see him having next season?

You saw the fire he came with this season to make people forget about last season?

He'll come with the same intensity, will probably get injured going too hard next season

You saw the fire he came with this season to make people forget about last season?

He'll come with the same intensity, will probably get injured going too hard next season

I think you forgot the most important thing about that, he was behind Jordan on the scoring list.

Washed up and still the highest payed player. That's what you get for being an ultimate-score-whore in your late years and shootign bellow 40%.

Having watched Kobe all these years and having my love/hate moments with the guy I gotta say I'm sad to see him have to sit out again. I'll also be quite sad once he decides to retire which I think will happen next year. Kobe's too Kobe to retire like this.

Chances of keeping the top 5 pick just increased so there's that. This season was a waste any way. I would have preferred he sat out on his own instead of being injured but like we know; Kobe's too Kobe to sit out the rest of the season without an injury. Hope LA has some luck with the pingpong balls and Min/NY/Philly start winning some.

At least Pau's doing well.

So the Rebuilding finally has begun in LA. Byron Scott looks quite committed to tanking now that he's starting Jordan Clarkson, Wellington, and Kelly while roles and minutes are inconsistent for Lin, Boozers, and other veteran likes.

Kobe is still owed $25 million for his last year but I can't envision Lakers making moves to compete next season. Like it or not, Kobe show is still going to be the best thing the Lakers fans are going to get next year. Perhaps development of Randle or whatever top 5 pick could land is cherry on top.

Anyway Kobe had a good run. There was no player in his generation that excited people as much as he did. Hate or love, nearly all bball fans enjoyed him jacking up shots after shots, even this season he was the center of discussion everywhere.