Kobe Bryant downplays sore shoulder, says he’ll be fine in a couple days
Kobe Bryant watches the Lakers’ game Saturday against the Thunder on the bench next to teammate Lou Williams.
Reporting from Oklahoma City — Kobe Bryant said his shoulder soreness did not seem serious and he hoped to play in the Lakers’ next game on Tuesday at Denver.
Bryant sat out the Lakers’ 118-78 loss Saturday to Oklahoma City after experiencing discomfort in his right shoulder. He sustained a torn rotator cuff in the same shoulder after a dunk last January that ended his season.
Bryant’s first dunk this season came two days ago.
“I’m sure it didn’t help,” he said. “It was [bothering] me before then.”
Bryant said he would let the shoulder rest and didn’t plan on seeing a doctor. He wasn’t surprised there would be soreness in it after undergoing surgery 11 months ago to repair the rotator cuff.
“It’s just something that needs a couple days,” he said.
Bryant, 37, hoped to play in all the Lakers’ remaining games after announcing he would retire after this season. Saturday marked the fourth game he skipped -- he sat out two last month because of a sore back and another one so he could rest.
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