Bryant Opts Out of Surgery
Published by Trevor Smith on September 12, 2008
Los Angeles Lakers guard and reigning MVP Kobe Bryant had two priorities heading into this summer: win a gold medal and get healthy for the start of the Lakers season. The first goal was realized when the Redeem Team defeated Spain several weeks ago. The later objective, though, looks to be a false hope.
Bryant was scheduled to have had surgery earlier this week on his right pinkie finger, a procedure he had delayed since February. The operation to the guard’s shooting hand is procedurally straight-forward and threatened only a single complication with respect to Los Angeles defending its Western Conference title: significant recovery time.
After soliciting advice from numerous hand specialists, the 10-time All-NBA selection has decided to forgo the surgery. Bryant was informed that it was likely to sideline him for anywhere between six to 12 weeks. Apparently, that is a layoff Bryant feels his young Laker team can ill afford.
On Tuesday he announced he would not go through with the operation, expressing that he did not want to miss the team’s training camp, which opens September 27.
“I am just really excited and looking forward to being there with the guys when camp opens in a few weeks,” Bryant said on his website.
Now that it is clear Bryant will skip surgery, there is one obvious question: is that really a wise decision?
For their part, the Lakers front office firmly supports Bryant’s decision to play through the injury. Laker GM Mitch Kupchak cited that Bryant has played through the injury for some time already and that the team expects him to continue his usual level of performance.
“He’s proven that he can play for long periods of time with the finger as it is…he did it all summer,” Kupchak said.
That said, the Lakers were comfortable with Bryant missing almost all of training camp and the bulk of the preseason in the name of being healthy. The team completely expected him to have the surgery.
Management was prepared for their star to miss early season play so that he and his shooting hang would be 100% next spring. He has elected not to, in the name of not sacrificing the opportunity to build team chemistry and solidarity.
But is early-season cohesion as important as post-season health? The importance of team harmony is obvious: The more united a team is in its play, the more likely it is to achieve its goals. But the team must now be fearful that Bryant is opening himself up to aggravating the injury further and missing time in-season.
Games in November are meaningless compared to those in June. Having a well-rested, healthy Bryant playing against Boston next spring is far more pivotal than having him available for opening night October 28 against Portland.
Further, it would be a foolish notion to think that Bryant will fully participate in training camp just because he did not have the surgery. Bryant being available does not necessarily mean he will partake in every drill at camp.
In today’s NBA, players must stay fit and train to be in “game-shape” year-round. There is no longer the need for players to come into camp to lose weight and prepare physically (with the notable exception of course being Shaquille O’Neal).
The nature of having a superstar on your team is that he does not fully participate in every workout. This is partially to manage the mileage on their bodies and save them for the season, and also a recognition that their skill dictates that they do not need as much practice. Put it this way: Bryant does not need time to relearn the Triangle offense.
If special handling were not enough to ensure that Bryant will see reduced floortime in camp, there is the obvious factor that he played all summer for Team USA. Phil Jackson will give Bryant and Pau Gasol a much lighter workload after participating in the Olympics, just as he did with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in 1992.
Nonetheless, Bryant’s presence at training camp will help the team bond, even if he is on the sidelines occasionally. Given that his past is littered with charges that he is not a supportive or caring teammate, perhaps being present from day one to build camaraderie is precise what Bryant has to do.
Last season, the Lakers’ training camp was famously thrown into havoc as media rumors swirled daily that Bryant was about to be traded. From reports that he had cleaned out his locker to sources insisting he had demanded to be sent to Chicago, the entire preseason was full of confusion and turmoil.
While the Lakers eventually came together as a team, initially that cohesiveness was in spite of Bryant, not because of him. The chaos his trade demand brought to the start of the season came very close to alienating him from his teammates completely.
No player was as hurt by Bryant’s actions than Andrew Bynum. Bryant had specifically spoken out against Bynum as one of his issues with the organization. Though they eventually buried any ill will after the team’s strong start, the young centre missed the team’s postseason run to the NBA Finals and has not played with his teammates for over seven months.
Therefore it is not unreasonable to think that Bryant’s decision to skip the surgery and play at camp is driven by his recognition that he has to bring Bynum back into the fold to trust him again.
With the acquisition of Pau Gasol, Bynum’s role has changed significantly since February. It will be up to Bryant to lead Bynum towards being comfortable within the new team dynamic, not just on offense but in the locker-room. A happy, supportive Bryant that is on the court and encouraging the young post will go a lot further than if he were on the sidelines.
Bryant has played with damaged ligaments in the finger since February, so he has grown accustom to the discomfort it causes him. While he can manage the injury, he is mindful that he cannot endure the loss of trust or respect of his teammates. That is why is he so conscious of affirming their team fellowship early on.
“What it really came down to for me is that I just didn’t want to miss any time ‘punching the clock’ for the Lakers,” Bryant admitted. “Given all we are trying to accomplish as a team this NBA season.”
Given how competitive the Western Conference is, even games in November will play a role in the team’s chance to return to the NBA Finals. If Bryant had surgery today, he may be out until nearly December. The team will be challenged enough early in the season figuring out how to fit Bynum back into the rotation. Having the best player in the league missing time as well is no way to start the season.
If he can avoid being sidelined from re-injuring himself, his decision may go a long way towards team unity. If that is the case, there is a strong case to be made that Los Angeles will be playing again in June.
The old adage states that playing hurt is part of the game in sports. It will now certainly be part of the season for Bryant and the Lakers.
Photo Credit: Icon Sports Media
This article was written by:
Trevor Smith - who has written 44 posts on Hoops Addict.
Trevor Smith is a management consultant living in Toronto, Ontario. He currently writes for HoopsAddict.com, and previously worked for NBA Cares. He is a graduate of Queen's University.
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Rashad Mobley
on Fri, 12th Sep 2008 8:33 am
I certainly hope this isn’t a Shawne Merriman situation and he does further damage by not opting for surgery
Brandon Hoffman
on Fri, 12th Sep 2008 12:57 pm
The Western Conference’s #1 and 8 seeds were separated by 7 games last season. When Kobe hurt his finger in February, the Lakers were in third place, Denver or Golden State was only three games behind them but sat in eighth.
The Lakers are going to be a force with Gasol and Bynum down low. But those guys are dependent upon someone getting them the ball. The only Lakers capable of that consistently are Kobe and Odom. Odom is injury prone.
And while the Lakers could very well remain in playoff contention until Kobe recovered from surgery, seeding is extremely important in the West.
Bottom line (for me): the Lakers are the favorites to win the championship next season. The time is now. The risk is worth the reward.
Trevor Smith
on Fri, 12th Sep 2008 4:03 pm
I completely agree with you Brandon- this group has all the tools to win right now but without Kobe at the helm of the ship, the team won’t go anywhere (or at least not deep into the Playoffs). The Hornets and Jazz aren’t far behind them in terms of firepower, and we should know by now to never discount the Spurs.
Rashad- Haha, I couldn’t help but think of “Lights Out” myself when I heard Kobe wasn’t having surgery. But, thankfully, a bent pinkie is not as bad as two blown ligaments in your knee…here’s hoping Merriman can make it back to be the same player next season.
Trevor Smith
on Fri, 12th Sep 2008 4:08 pm
Also, I wanted to post the stat splits for before and after the injury last February. They basically show that there was no real stat drop off afterwards, in any category. MAJOR THANKS to the fantastic Laker site http://www.forumblueandgold.com/ for the info:
Kobe pre-injury:
46 games, 45.9% FG, 83.6% FT, 35.6% 3P, 8.8 FTA/gm, 5.1 3PA/gm
Kobe post-injury (including playoffs):
57 games: 46.5% FG, 83.1% FT, 34.4% 3P, 9.4 FTA/gm, 5.0 3PA/gm
JD
on Wed, 17th Sep 2008 3:04 pm
Good article, overall. A couple disagreements, however.
1. If you really think that Kobe, because he is a superstar, will be sitting out drills during training camp, then you must not know much about him. That may be what most superstars do, but Kobe’s work ethic would never allow it, nor would his competitive drive. With regards to those two things, he is relentless, probably borderline insane. He could never sit on the sidelines and watch when there was benefit to be had by his being in. And there always is, even when there’s not so much to relearn. And this year…
2. Kobe may not need to relearn the Triangle offense. But the team does need to relearn it with Bynum and Gasol on the court together, and with Odom moved to the 3 spot. And they can’t effectively experience it as it will be in the season, and learn it, if they don’t also have the guy in there who’s going to be at the two spot. If they get Gasol and Bynum on the court together, but not Kobe, then they’re still not practicing it the way it will be in games, so they’re still not going to have that familiarity and comfort that they will need. It’s more than just knowing the Triangle, or having basketball skills. It’s knowing how to play with those guys on the floor, in those positions — especially in the Triangle. Kobe knows this, and this is why, even if his work ethic would allow it, he still wouldn’t be taking it easy on drills. He knows that in many ways they essentially have to start from scratch, and that there is much work to be done before the offense is working well. He has to be in there for that to happen, not only for his own sake, but also so that his teammates can get used to playing with that lineup with him on the court.
3. It wasn’t merely in spite of Kobe that they gelled early in the season last year. Most of the coaching staff, and most of the roster, have been quoted at one point or another as saying that when the season started and it came down to playing ball, Kobe threw himself into it, get on the court, and took care of business. That, according to his coaches and teammates, is what made that early cohesiveness possible. The Finals showed us that the rest of the Lakers don’t have the mental fortitude to perform under the kind of pressure they would be if it was in spite of him. It was impressive enough that these young guys were able to respond to Kobe throwing himself back into the game and the team once the season started. But make no mistake, that was where it started, and that was what they were responding to.
Otherwise, great article. Look how far the Lakers went last year despite turmoil
JD
on Wed, 17th Sep 2008 3:08 pm
(continued from above)
…Look how far the Lakers went last year despite turmoil early on in the season, despite Pau Gasol not having been in training camp with them, and despite losing Bynum halfway through the season. Now, put both Gasol and Bynum in there, give them a full training camp to really learn to play together (instead of being thrown into the mix from one game to the next), and factor in a sense of team cohesiveness and cameraderie from Day 1 that they didn’t really have until at least mid-season last year.
Surely, those things make them even more impressive this year. Which is why Kobe is doing what he’s doing.
Now, if he can just convince Phil Jackson to make defense as much of a priority and focus this year as it was for his championship Bulls and the threepeat Lakers…