The foot injury that prompted the Los Angeles Lakers to shut down Kobe Bryant for the remainder of the preseason might result in him missing Tuesday’s season opener.
Bryant sat out Wednesday’s exhibition game against the Los Angeles Clippers and won’t play Thursday night against Sacramento. The Lakers open the regular season Tuesday against Dallas.
“I don’t know if he’ll be ready,” Lakers coach Mike Brown said. “So yeah, I guess there is question. I’m just going to wait for (trainer) Gary Vitti to tell me he can play because there’s nothing I can do about it until they release him anyway.”
ESPN.com reported that Bryant felt some improvement in his strained foot. The 17-year veteran received treatment during Wednesday’s game and didn’t join his teammates on the bench. Bryant suffered the injury, which is causing him significant pain, on Sunday night in a game against the Kings.
Jodie Meeks replaced Bryant in the starting lineup Wednesday night. The Lakers are winless in seven exhibition games.
Bryant had appeared in five preseason games, averaging 20.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists in nearly 27 minutes per game.