Kobe Bryant has tear in rotator cuff of right shoulder, no timetable

UPDATE, 1/23 11:20 A.M. PT: Kobe Bryant is expected to miss the remainder of the season, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, but the Lakers are still waiting on official word from doctors

Kobe Bryant was diagnosed with a tear in the rotator cuff in his right shoulder following MRI results and the Los Angeles Lakers have no timetable on his return, the team announced. Bryant suffered the injury during the Lakers' loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.

Bryant underwent the MRI in San Antonio and will return to Los Angeles for further evaluation.

The Lakers did not go into detail regarding how serious the tear is, which significantly varies. Recovery time can be anywhere between weeks or months, and also depends on whether surgery is needed. The training staff will likely re-examine his shoulder and consider their options before giving another update on his status going forward.

A rotator cuff tear is an injury that can take significant patience and time to return from. Further, and potentially permanent, injury can results from returning too early. This has the potential to end Kobe Bryant's season, especially if Byron Scott was already considering shutting Bryant down between the All-Star break and March.

For now all there is to do is wait until the Lakers reveal how serious the injury is.