NBA News Wire
NBA notebook: Bryant to have surgery
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant will undergo surgery this week to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder.
The team said Monday that surgery has been scheduled for Wednesday morning. A timeline estimate for Bryant’s return will be issued following the surgery.
Bryant was examined Monday morning by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who confirmed an earlier diagnosis of a torn rotator cuff, and he advised the star player to have surgery.
“Now we know Kobe is probably not going to play (the rest of the year),” Lakers coach Byron Scott said at practice Monday.
It would be the third consecutive season-ending injury for the 36-year-old Bryant, a five-time NBA champion and former league MVP.
Kobe, a 19-year veteran, has one year remaining on his contract, during which he is set to be paid $25 million.
—The Charlotte Hornets will be without guard Kemba Walker, forward Marvin Williams and center Bismack Biyombo indefinitely due to injuries.
Walker will have surgery Wednesday to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee. The diagnosis was confirmed Monday in New York by Dr. David Altchek, who will perform the surgery.
A timeline for his recovery will be determined after the procedure.
Walker, who leads the Hornets with 18.8 points and 5.2 assists per game, has missed three of the Hornets’ last five games.
Biyombo (bruised right knee) and Williams (broken nose and concussion) were injured Saturday in Charlotte’s 76-71 victory over New York. Biyombo will be evaluated in about 10 days, and Williams must pass the NBA’s concussion protocol to return.
—The two NBA games scheduled for Monday night in New York were postponed due to the expected massive snowstorm hitting the area.
The league announced that the Sacramento Kings at New York Knicks game has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 3, at 7 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden.
The Portland Trail Blazers at Brooklyn Nets game has been rescheduled for Monday, April 6, at 7 p.m. at Barclays Center.
—The Philadelphia 76ers signed guard Larry Drew II to a second 10-day contract Monday.
In six games played since joining the Sixers, Drew is averaging five points and four assists in nearly 19 minutes per game.
In 21 starts for the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Development League this season, Drew has averaged 11 points and 10 assists.
