Surgery Changes Bryant's Plans

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Lakers All-Star guard Kobe Bryant will not participate in the USA Basketball Senior National Team's training camp that begins Wednesday in Las Vegas because he had minor surgery on his right knee Friday.

Bryant, who has yearned to represent the United States in the Olympics, won't miss out on his opportunity. He will remain a member of the Olympic team and still is expected to attend the team's training camp and pre-World Championship tour, a spokesperson for USA Basketball said.

Bryant had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee for what was described as a "minor treatment" of a cartilage and removal of scar tissue.

He is expected to be sidelined eight to 12 weeks while recovering. That could take Bryant right up to the start of Lakers training camp on Oct. 2, meaning he might not be 100 percent healthy.

USA Basketball said Bryant, one of the stars who has committed to help the United States win the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, will have limited "basketball participation" with the team while he recovers from surgery.

"We trust that Kobe will have a total and speedy recover, and we are pleased that he expressed a willingness to remain as involved with our team as possible through this process," Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball Senior National Team managing director, said in a statement issued by USA Basketball. "Kobe being with the team will add to our team chemistry, and his presence will help provide valuable off-court leadership."

Bryant, who had surgery on his knee in the summer of 2003, became the second Laker this week who backed out of the USA Basketball training camp.

Lamar Odom pulled out because of the death of his infant son, Jayden, June 29 in New York of an apparent suffocation while he slept in his crib.

Boston's Paul Pierce and Orlando's J. J. Redick, both of whom had been selected along with 24 other players to try out for the team, won't participate either.

Bryant, who led the Lakers to the first round of the Western Conference playoffs this past season, was prepared to commit to the USA team from 2006 to 2008, the year the Olympics take place in China.

Bryant has said in the past he didn't like the United States winning just a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics. Bryant has said that he wanted to put USA basketball back on top.

"It's a honor," Bryant said when he was selected to the Olympic team. "We get the chance to play for our country. There are a lot of troops out there who go out and represent our country and fight for our freedom. We as basketball players, this is what we do. It's an opportunity for us to go out there and show the world that we are No. 1 in basketball"

The USA team will train from Wednesday through July 25 in Las Vegas. It will play in the five-team World Basketball Challenge in Seoul, South Korea, Aug, 11-15. The U. S. team will also play preliminary-round games in the 2006 FIBA World Championships in Sapporo, Japan, Aug. 19-24. </div>

http://www.pe.com/sports/basketball/lakers...15.226a418.html

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SP23:</div><div class="quote_post">Is he going to be in the World Championship?</div>

Yes, Kobe will still be in the WC. He'll be at all the training sessions this summer, as well. He just won't train with the team, he'll watch them.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SP23:</div><div class="quote_post">When is the World Championship exactly, because I know training camp is about to start.
It says this in the article:

Aug 19-24?</div>

I believe Aug 19-24 are the qualifying rounds, I'm not sure. Your best bet is to ask Shape about this.

 

The World Championships don't take place until 2008. Right now they are having tryouts and it's a 3 year commitment by the players.

 

Kobe Bryant fall behind in conditiong? The man is miles ahead of everybody in conditioning, we don't have to worry about that.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Brian:</div><div class="quote_post">Is anyone worried that Kobe may fall behind with his conditioning because of this surgery? After all, he will be out for a pretty long time, which means less running, lifting, shooting, and ect.</div>

This is where is hard work pays dividends. Being in great conditioning going into surgery will allow Kobe to recover a lot faster and he shouldn't have any side effects once he starts his training regimine this summer.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Brian:</div><div class="quote_post">I heard that he wouldn't be completely healthy until October?</div>

Yup, he won't be ready until training camp based on the initial reports. I just don't want him rushing back, but you can bank on Kobe being in top shape before the regular season starts.

 

Kobe Bryant is one of the best athletes in all of sports when it comes to conditioning and keeping himself healthy. Like Shape said, that'll pay dividends when it comes time for Kobe to start getting himself ready for the season.