PhilJackson had a sudden flashback when he saw Kobe Bryant laying prone onthe court holding his left knee late in the game. He thought of formerNBA great Karl Malone, who suffered a serious knee injury while playingfor the Lakers five years ago.
That concern spread quicklyamong the soldout Staples Center crowd, but dissappated even quickerwhen Bryant got up and continued to play after a timeout.
“I was concerned, I was very concerned,” Bryant said. (But) I did my ACL check, my MCL check (and) it was all intact.”
A knee injury is notsomething Bryant needed, not with LeBron James and the Cavaliers comingto town Christmas. He already is playing with a fractured right indexfinger and he got knocked in the jaw by Oklahoma City’s RussellWestbrook.
“We’re fortunate that he didn’t do anything disastrous,” Jackson said.
But isn’t Bryant concerned about these injuries?
“Nah, I’m Bruce Willis, man,” he said.
Im not going to say I got a knee, I got a finger. Iim fine. Im more than fine. I’ll be ready to go on fri.
Im healthy, im fine.
