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Kobe Bryant is "expected" to miss six weeks with a fractured lateral tibia plateau in his left knee, the Los Angeles Lakers officially announced via Twitter. Kobe indicated he suffered a hyperextended knee during the third quarter of the Lakers' game against the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday but continued playing through the fourth quarter. Here's video of the play where the injury occurred:
It's a heavy blow for the Lakers after welcoming Kobe back just six games ago. On Dec. 8 he played in his first game since tearing his Achilles last April. The bone is expected to heal on it's own and will not require surgery, according to Ken Berger of CBS Sports.
Kobe has averaged 16.9 points and 7.7 assists per game since returning, covering the team's starting point guard duties in the absence of Steve Nash, Steve Blake and Jordan Farmar. Six weeks from today is Jan. 30. The Lakers play 21 games during the six week time frame, and with such a large time frame, there's no telling if the initial announcement is a concrete date for return.
It's also important to note the injury occurred on the same leg he suffered his Achilles rupture. Expect plenty of updates on the knee over the coming weeks.
