From Deseret News archives:
Jazz's Williams may replace Kobe
Bryant might skip All-Star game with pinkie finger injury
Should Bryant win, Jazz point guard Deron Williams may, too.
If needed, Williams is a leading candidate to replace Bryant, who is citing a finger injury as the reason he won't take part in one other NBA All-Star Weekend event.
The star Los Angeles Lakers guard dislocated his right pinkie in a Feb. 5 game at New Jersey and, according to the Lakers, aggravated it Wednesday.
The NBA on Friday replaced him with reigning NBA MVP Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks for the league's annual 3-point shooting contest, part of NBA Saturday Night festivities.
But Bryant may be seeking to be replaced in Sunday's showcase as well.
The Orange County (Calif.) Register did report late Thursday that Bryant "plans to start" Sunday, extending his streak of consecutive starts to 10, but likely will not play much."
Lakers coach Phil Jackson, however, said after the Lakers' win at Minnesota on Wednesday a game in which Bryant scored 29 points and played 35 minutes that "he'd prefer Bryant not play in the All-Star Game," the Associated Press reported.
Bryant was "noncommittal" when asked if he would play Sunday, "but he told some teammates he would not play," the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.
"We'll see what the doc has to say," Bryant, the MVP of last year's All-Star Game in Las Vegas, told the Times.
Also Thursday, the Lakers released a detailed statement saying that Bryant, after an examination in Los Angeles by hand specialist Dr. Steve Shin, "has been diagnosed with a complete tear of the radial collateral ligament, an avulsion fracture, and a volar plate injury at the MCP joint of the small finger of his right hand."
The statement perhaps designed to help grease the path for Bryant's potential exit from Sunday's game also said Shin "has recommended surgery to repair the ligament, which would cause Bryant to miss approximately six weeks."
Bryant, though, has decided against any immediate surgery.
"My current thinking is to give my finger some treatment and rest for a few days, and hope I can still continue to compete at a high level after that rest," he said. "I would prefer to delay any surgical procedure until after our Lakers season, and this summer's Olympic Games."
It's believed the NBA, meanwhile, is decidedly opposed to Bryant's withdrawal.
Recent comments
I would trade anything if I could just win 1 playoff series, but I am...
Tracy McGrady | Feb. 16, 2008 at 1:51 p.m.
If the Jazz and Warriors meet up in the playoffs (that's assuming the...
Anonymous | Feb. 16, 2008 at 1:45 p.m.
Typical of Jazz fans to cry foul on athletic plays. Step into...
Jazz cry babies | Feb. 16, 2008 at 12:07 p.m.
- NBA roundup: Suns are red-hot 11:40 p.m.
- Utah group finds homes for orphans 11:38 p.m.
- Thousands remember fall of Wall 11:29 p.m.
- Jazz blow big lead, hang on 11:28 p.m.
- Rains, flooding hit Gulf Coast 11:28 p.m.
- Court won't stop sniper execution 11:16 p.m.
- Abortion fight shifts to Senate 11:10 p.m.
- Cleveland inquiry expands overseas 11:10 p.m.
- DNA, bullets link suspect to slaying 11:09 p.m.
- 3 teens will be charged as adults 11:08 p.m.
- TCU showdown has big implications
- Seniors helped BYU regroup
- Lambert surprisingly tops news
- Hope for single moms
- Bystanders framed for child porn
- Korver and Miles to be evaluated
- Soccer MVPs know how to win
- Utah Jazz Extra: Whose hot/not
- GOP blasts Matheson after vote
- Newhouse Hotel, an explosive end
- House passes health care bill
228 - TCU showdown has big implications
183 - Lobo suspended
182 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
154 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
118 - Thousands protest health bill
113 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
97 - Utes pound winless Lobos
89
I find it somewhat ironic that this man who denounces the entire U.S. System...
I don't need a support group. I take care of my sons just fine, and they are...
The knicks turned the ball over twice in the fourth quarter. Williams turned...
Too bad for Utah and GOP--extremist agenda rejects Madisonian democracy. Not...
A classy man started a wonderful program to help a sector of society by...
TCU is a very small university compared to the U or the Y. Only about 5-6...
National stats are in TCU's favor Stats Total Offense in Nation-Points...
The World Cup Bobsled Races are coming to Park City this weekend. The USA #1...
I think the "simple minds" are the ones that just watch the biased mainstream...
gee that would not be the coaches fault would it? How stupid an excuse,...
