Kobe Bryant injury: Lakers teammates shocked and sympathetic
The Lakers were stunned Thursday to hear that Kobe Bryant had suffered a knee injury that will knock him out for six weeks.
“It’s shocking,†said Nick Young. “You’ve just got to somehow come together as a team and just try our best out there at this point.â€
Young will have to help fill in at point guard with Xavier Henry and Jodie Meeks, none necessarily with the skills for the job.
Jordan Farmar (hamstring), Steve Blake (elbow) and Steve Nash (back) are also sidelined. Farmar may be back in about a week.
The Lakers had just gotten Bryant back from an Achilles’ tendon injury. After six games, the team’s All-Star guard is out again.
“We were playing at a certain way without him. Then he comes back and we started to play another way, started to get into the groove and get comfortable,†said Young. “Now they hit us with this -- no point guard, no Kobe -- but still we’ve got to jell and play for him and each other.â€
Seven-foot center Pau Gasol acknowledged that he played some point guard as a youth.
“A couple of games, but I’m not planning on getting back on it,†said Gasol.
Gasol has sympathy for Bryant.
“It’s very hard for me as a teammate, as a friend,†he said. “He’ll be back, ready to play.â€
ALSO:
Kobe Bryant out six weeks with a knee fracture
Kobe Bryant injury: Lakers might look to acquire a point guard
Xavier Henry takes over Kobe Bryant’s starting role for Lakers
Email Eric Pincus at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.
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