League policy requires him to play or sit out the next game for the Lakers. He might be in the game for only a few minutes.
L.A. Times: Ready, willing, able or not … h-e-r-e’s Kobe!
Despite protests by the Lakers and Kobe Bryant, NBA officials insisted that he remain in the lineup for Sunday’s All-Star game, which Bryant said he would do.
According to NBA policy, any selectee who plays in his team’s last game — as Bryant did, scoring 29 points in Wednesday’s win in Minnesota — has to play in the All-Star game or sit out his team’s next game.
It was after the Lakers got home Thursday that Bryant’s injury, thought to be a dislocated right pinkie, was re-diagnosed as a ligament tear.
With the Lakers medical staff and management right up to owner Jerry Buss counseling Bryant to undergo surgery, which would have meant missing six weeks, Bryant made the decision to keep playing.
Bryant, the leading vote-getter in the West, attended Friday’s media session with his right hand in a brace and the last two fingers splinted.
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