If there’s anybody who has the skills and determination to come back from injuries, it’s Kobe Bryant. At 35-years old, Bryant came back from a torn Achilles and later went out again after suffering a fractured knee. Still there’s no doubt that Bryant can return to greatness and who would know better than his former coach Phil Jackson. He also alluded to what caused the injury in the first place.
Both coach Mike D’Antoni and Kobe himself have been blamed for the heavy minutes he played just before going down with a torn Achilles.
via Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News:
After seeing Bryant overcome countless injuries, Jackson maintained optimism the same scenario will play out whenever Bryant ultimately returns in as soon as three weeks from now. Bryant has only averaged 13.8 points on 42.5 percent shooting, 6.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds in six games this season. Yet, Jackson predicted Bryant “is going to be still a scorer,” and then lauded his moves on post-ups, screen-and-rolls and outside shooting.
But Jackson suggested that his heavy playing time contributed to his season-ending left Achilles injury, which then related to his latest injury in the form of a fractured knee. The Lakers have argued otherwise.
“Kobe’s minutes he’s played, the time he’s been on the floor, the duress and the way he’s played has taken a toll, obviously,” Jackson said. “And his injury, I think , was part of the chain of events that happened because of his Achilles tendon. Unfortunately, it set him back and now he’s got a knee injury.”
