This article is part of our NBA Injury Analysis series.
Kobe Bryant
It appears Bryant's season will prematurely end for the third straight year. After working his way back from a ruptured Achilles and a tibial plateau fracture in his knee, Bryant has now suffered a torn rotator cuff muscle in his right shooting shoulder. The injury occurred following a dunk in a loss to New Orleans, and Bryant was removed in obvious discomfort. A subsequent MRI revealed the tear.
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles that includes the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis. Together these muscles surround the head of the humerus, and, along with the labrum, help stabilize the shoulder. As its name suggests, the rotator cuff is also responsible for rotation of the glenohumeral joint allowing for a high degree of mobility at the shoulder.
Rotator cuff injuries generally involve the tendons of the injured muscle. The tendons of each rotator cuff muscle pass through a tiny space in the shoulder. This positioning leaves them susceptible to chronic injury with excessive repetitive motion. Cuff tears of this nature are common in Major League Baseball, particularly with pitchers. Acute tears are also possible following extreme stress on the area.
Bryant's injury appears to be acute in nature but could also have a chronic component. Following the injury, Kobe admitted the shoulder has been a problem for a while and was simply irritated with the dunk. It's possible that Bryant entered the game with an inflamed cuff that finally tore following the dunk.
It's also worth
Kobe Bryant
It appears Bryant's season will prematurely end for the third straight year. After working his way back from a ruptured Achilles and a tibial plateau fracture in his knee, Bryant has now suffered a torn rotator cuff muscle in his right shooting shoulder. The injury occurred following a dunk in a loss to New Orleans, and Bryant was removed in obvious discomfort. A subsequent MRI revealed the tear.
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles that includes the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis. Together these muscles surround the head of the humerus, and, along with the labrum, help stabilize the shoulder. As its name suggests, the rotator cuff is also responsible for rotation of the glenohumeral joint allowing for a high degree of mobility at the shoulder.
Rotator cuff injuries generally involve the tendons of the injured muscle. The tendons of each rotator cuff muscle pass through a tiny space in the shoulder. This positioning leaves them susceptible to chronic injury with excessive repetitive motion. Cuff tears of this nature are common in Major League Baseball, particularly with pitchers. Acute tears are also possible following extreme stress on the area.
Bryant's injury appears to be acute in nature but could also have a chronic component. Following the injury, Kobe admitted the shoulder has been a problem for a while and was simply irritated with the dunk. It's possible that Bryant entered the game with an inflamed cuff that finally tore following the dunk.
It's also worth mentioning that this isn't the first time Bryant has injured this shoulder. During the 2003 playoffs, Kobe suffered a shoulder injury and ultimately underwent offseason surgery to repair a frayed labrum and inflamed bursa. As a result, the overall integrity of the shoulder joint was likely at risk especially when Kobe's career workload and age are considered.
Most media outlets are reporting Bryant is likely done for the season though it is possible he opts to play through the injury. Last season, Patty Mills was able to play through a torn rotator cuff, but even he eventually went under the knife. In fact,
10 of the last 16 NBA players to suffer a Grade 2 or higher rotator cuff injury eventually needed surgery, suggesting a trip to the operating room is an inevitability for the former MVP.
Fantasy owners should use this latest setback as the final reason to drop Bryant and move on. He hasn't been a major factor when healthy, and a prolonged absence would be difficult to stomach. A committee of Wayne Ellington, Ronnie Price, Jeremy Lin, and Nick Young should all see a bump in usage, but none of these players are must-adds due to inconsistent productivity.
LaMarcus Aldridge
It appeared the Blazers were going to be without the services of their All-Star forward after it was revealed Aldridge had suffered a torn radial collateral ligament (RCL) in his left thumb. However, he opted to forgo surgery and returned to the lineup after a two-game absence.
The RCL sits on the outside portion of the thumb and helps stabilize the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint. Its partner, the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), aids in stability and is the more frequently injured of the two. However, players like Penny Hardaway, Chris Paul, and, more recently, Nick Young have suffered RCL tears. All three players underwent surgery to fix the ligament though Paul was able to delay surgery in order to play in the 2012 Olympics. Young tore his RCL during training camp and missed the next seven weeks recovering. All three players were able to return to a high level following the surgery, and the procedure has a high overall success rate.
Surgery still seems unavoidable for Aldridge, though it's clear he hopes to put it off until the offseason. The fact that the injury occurred to his off-hand made playing through the injury a possibility. Furthermore, doctors have told him he isn't going to make things worse, suggesting the injury is a complete tear. Aldridge will play with the area heavily splinted and/or taped and will remain in the lineup as long as he can effectively control the associated symptoms. Fantasy owners should continue to play Aldridge though the threat of a sudden shutdown looms.
Fast Breaks
Dwight Howard: Howard missed Sunday's win over the Lakers with a sprained right ankle. The injury does not appear to be serious but did occur on the same leg as his still healing knee. It doesn't sound like he will sit for an extended period of time, but any cascade effect on the knee would be problematic.
Mirza Teletovic: The Nets forward was one of several players to see their season come to an end over the weekend. However, Teletovic's case was extremely serious and potentially life threatening. After experiencing shortness of breath, Brooklyn athletic trainer Tim Walsh recommended Teletovic go to the hospital for a more detailed exam. There, a CT scan was performed and bilateral blood clots were found in his lungs. The scary situation was a harsh reminder that life is bigger than basketball and fantasy sports, and here's wishing Teletovic the safest of recoveries.
Brandon Jennings: The red-hot Pistons will continue their ascent to relevance without the services of Jennings. The sixth-year guard suffered a torn Achilles tendon against the Raptors and is done for the season. He will undergo surgery and spend the next six-to-nine months recovering. A torn Achilles is a tough injury to bounce back from, especially for a speedy guard dependent on their ability to make explosive movements and sudden starts and stops. Look for his recovery to spill over into next season. D.J. Augustin becomes a must-add in all formats and is already making an impact, scoring 35 points and handing out eight assists in his first start.
Tony Wroten: The Sixers will continue the season without Wroten after a MRI revealed a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Surgery will be necessary but should allow him to be ready for the start of the 2015-16 season. K.J. McDaniels becomes an interesting speculative add with Wroten out.
Brandan Wright: The Phoenix big man missed Sunday's game with a left heel injury. The specifics have yet to be released but heel injuries often end up being plantar fasciitis. Keep a close eye out for more information to see if this in fact the issue with Wright.
