Kobe Bryant sidelined against Phoenix because of sore left shin
Phoenix -- Kobe Bryant will not play every game this season.
He was sidelined Saturday against Phoenix because of a condition called “tenosynovitis” in his left shin. There is no timetable for his return, though he will be re-evaluated Monday in New Orleans before the Lakers play the Hornets that night.
Bryant was kicked in the shin last Saturday against New Orleans and the sensitivity in the area became progressively worse. The Lakers tried putting him in a walking boot earlier this week, and he felt better between games, but he would feel pain again in the area after a game.
Tenosynvitis is a condition in which a tendon sheath becomes inflamed, causing pain whenever the tendon slides in and out of the sheath.
“It’s very painful,” said longtime Lakers trainer Gary Vitti. “He’s been playing with this and it’s not getting any better. Really the only way to stop it is to shut him down. That’s why we put him in a boot. But we put him in the boot, he comes out, he feels better and then he plays and we’re back to square one.”
Bryant feels pain in the shin whenever he flexes his foot, Vitti said.
Devin Ebanks started in his position Saturday against the Suns.
Bryant played all 82 regular-season games last season. He played 73 the previous season.
He is averaging a league-high 28.1 points and playing 38.4 minutes a game, fourth in the NBA.
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Kobe Bryant sidelined against Phoenix because of sore left shin
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