July 16th: "Bryant has surgery" "Green-led Lakers fall to Memphis"

[Phil]

Bryant has surgery
Likely won't play for U.S. this summer
BY ROSS SILER, Staff Writer



LONG BEACH - Kobe Bryant underwent surgery on his right knee Saturday that will keep the superstar guard from playing in this summer's FIBA World Championships in Japan but shouldn't affect his availability for the Lakers' season.

Bryant had arthroscopic surgery for "minor treatment of cartilage and removal of scar tissue," according to a news release. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak would not call it minor surgery but said doctors "found no more than what they expected."

It is expected to take eight to 12 weeks for Bryant to recover from the surgery, his second in three years. The Lakers open training camp Oct. 2, a little more than 11 weeks from Saturday. Bryant is not expected to miss any time during preseason.

Kupchak said Bryant was bothered by the knee at the end of last season and wore a protective sleeve on it. Bryant had been working out in advance of USA Basketball's summer training camp, which begins Wednesday in Las Vegas.

"I think 10 to 15 days ago, when he was working out, he continued to feel some discomfort," Kupchak said, "and, at that point in time, the decision was made: `Hey, let me get this looked at right away and we'll take it from there."'

Kupchak said the surgery took place in the Los Angeles area.

"It was something that the doctors had a great deal of comfort going into," Kupchak said.

[Phil]

Green-led Lakers fall to Memphis
By Earl Williams, Staff writer



The Memphis Grizzlies seemed to do everything right during their Southern California Summer Pro League game Saturday evening at the Walter Pyramid.

And the Lakers simply couldn't do much about it, resulting in an 88-73 Lakers loss.

"I think they were the more aggressive team," Lakers coach Kurt Rambis said. "I think our guys were a little bit tired.

"It took them a little too long to respond to get back into the game in the second half. For the most part, I think our guys ran out of gas. And Memphis did a great job of pressuring our guys."

[Phil]

Bryant likely to miss world championships

July 16, 2006

The Associated Press

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Kobe Bryant had minor surgery on his right knee Saturday and is highly unlikely to play for the United States in the world championships this summer.

The announcement Saturday that the U.S. team will be without the NBA's leading scorer comes just five days before the Americans open their training camp in Las Vegas.

USA Basketball said Bryant will still attend part of the camp and will travel with the team in Asia for training in exhibitions in China and South Korea, and the world championships in Japan.

But full recovery from the procedure normally takes eight to 12 weeks, leaving it doubtful Bryant will be available for any of the world championships, which run from Aug. 19-Sept. 3.

The U.S. has to choose its 12-man roster for the worlds before competition starts, and it can't be changed.

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

[jenlee3]

Bryant Opts to Fix Knee -- By Mike Bresnahan, Los Angeles Times

Kobe Bryant underwent arthroscopic surgery in his right knee Saturday and could sit out part of training camp in October because of a recovery time of up to 12 weeks.

Bryant, 27, will be out at least eight weeks after undergoing a procedure to clean out scar tissue and loose cartilage in the same knee that has given him problems. The surgery began at 9 a.m. at an undisclosed Southern California hospital and lasted a little over an hour....