Kobe Unsure on All-Star Game

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Kobe Bryant's finger is still bothering him, and the Lakers star was set to see a doctor in Los Angeles on Thursday to determine whether he'll play in the All-Star game this weekend.

Bryant, who dislocated his right pinkie last week, scored 29 points in 35 minutes in Wednesday's 117-92 win at Minnesota. Bryant sat out the fourth quarter and had the finger X-rayed after the game.

Coach Phil Jackson said he'd prefer Bryant not play in the All-Star game. Bryant said he'll travel to New Orleans for the festivities, but he's probably out for the 3-point contest and isn't sure about suiting up for Sunday's exhibition.

'We'll see what doc has to say,' Bryant said.

He was hit on the finger by Minnesota's Rashad McCants while the two were fighting for a second-quarter rebound. After the game, Bryant was wearing a black compression wrap on his hand.

'Every time it gets hit, it swells up again,' he said.</div>

Source: AP

 

He sure did play fine in the 3rd quarter.

 

Kobe's not going to sit out, at least I don't think.

It's posted on LG somewhere, that if Kobe sits out, according to the CBA, he must be listed as inactive until the league see's fit. That means, the league could keep him out for however long they want.

 

Here is the post:

From the standard player's contract...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Quote:
2.SERVICES.
The services to be rendered by the Player pursuant to this Contract shall include: (a) training camp, ( b ) practices, meetings, workouts, and skill or conditioning sessions conducted by the Team during the Season, &copy; games scheduled for the Team during any Regular Season, (d) Exhibition games scheduled by the Team or the League during and prior to any Regular Season, (e) if the Player is invited to participate, the NBA’s All-Star Game (including the Rookie-Sophomore Game) and every event conducted in association with such All-Star Game, but only in accordance with Article XXI* of the Collective Bargaining Agreement currently in effect between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association (hereinafter the “CBA”), (f) Playoff games scheduled by the League subsequent to any Regular Season, (g) promotional and commercial activities of the Team and the League as set forth in this Contract and the CBA, and (h) any NBADL Work Assignment in accordance with Article XLII of the CBA.</div>

*:CBA Article XXI: relevant section(s)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Quote:
Section 1. Participation.
(a) Any player selected (by any method designated by the NBA) to play in an All-Star Game shall be required to:

(i) attend and participate in such Game;

Quote:
Section 1

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 1(a), ( or &copy; above, a player will not be required to participate in a particular All-Star Game, Rookie-Sophomore Game, or All-Star Skills Competition if he has been excused from participation in the particular event by the Commissioner because (i) he has an injury or illness that renders him physically unable to participate in such Game or Skills Competition, or (ii) for such other reason as the Commissioner may determine in his sole discretion. If the player asserts that he should be excused from participation in a particular All-Star game or event under Section 1(e)(i) above, the Commissioner shall be authorized to require the player to submit to a medical examination to be performed by a physician designated by the NBA, and the determination of whether the player has satisfied Section 1(e)(i) shall be made by such physician in his sole discretion. In the event that a player is excused from participation in an All-Star game or event under Section 1(e)(i) above, he shall thereafter remain on his Team’s Inactive List until he is cleared to return to the Active List by the NBA.</div>

 

By contract, Stern can keep him out however long he sees fit.

 

What kind of horse shit rule is that? I can't believe the NBA Player's Union agreed to this rule.

Who's the head coach anyways? What's to prevent him from forcing Kobe to play the entire game?

 

Byron Scott. He loves Kobe, he wouldn't do that to him.

Kobe played the last game of the 1st half, therefore he must play in the ASG, or he must sit out at least the first game of the second half.

 

I think it's much less serious than Kobe makes it out to be.

Everybody in the Laker organization wanted Kobe to sit out...even Kobe wanted to. I'm sure the finger is bad, but I think the extent of it was exaggerated to give Kobe a reason for only playing 3 minutes.