Gary Vitti confirms ruptured achilles, Kobe out 6-9 months

[QUOTE]Someone posted a thing about an Asian guy in the instagram
I guess he happens to be this guy: [url]http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Soon-Shiong[/url] Although I know he's not the one doing the surgery, he's part owner of the Lakers, a board cert. surgeon with access to all the latest and greatest treatments and owns hospitals through out LA. I find this somewhat comforting. I will be praying for a speedy recovery.[/QUOTE]

Got that from another message board. He was the Asian guy that walked Kobe to the locker room last night.

[QUOTE]Patrick Soon-Shiong (Chinese: 黄馨祥; pinyin: Hu

Billups had a complete Achilles tear too right? He was back in about 10 months, but definitely not the same player.

2011-12 Season - 15 ppg, 4 apg

2012-13 Season - 8.2 ppg, 2.2 apg

[QUOTE=AussieG]Is this the worst possible injury he could have had?[/QUOTE]

Pretty much.

[QUOTE=Soundwave]Billups had a complete Achilles tear too right? He was back in about 10 months, but definitely not the same player.[/QUOTE]
somebody said like only 2 players out of 27 players in all 4 major sports came back from complete tears. billups wasnt one of those 2 names, you sure it was a complete tear?

It's actually not as bad as I thought it would be. He'd probably be able to play sometime next season, probably by February.

[QUOTE=NoGunzJustSkillz]somebody said like only 2 players out of 27 players in all 4 major sports came back from complete tears. billups wasnt one of those 2 names, you sure it was a complete tear?[/QUOTE]

Read a report this morning that in the NFL they have a 64% return rate. Size of the athlete seems to be more of a determining factor than age or severity of the rupture. Basically it's harder for 300 pounders to come back than it is for men that weigh 100 pounds less. Which makes sense.

[QUOTE=daily]Read a report this morning that in the NFL they have a 64% return rate. Size of the athlete seems to be more of a determining factor than age or severity of the rupture. Basically it's harder for 300 pounders to come back than it is for men that weigh 100 pounds less. Which makes sense.[/QUOTE]

Yeah I read that too. The only big downside is apparently performance for returning players took a big hit, as in they were never quite the same afterwards.

Maybe Kobe can come back and be a 19-21 ppg player.

Apparently this happened to Kobe's stronger foot too, which is bad because that's the foot he uses to explode off of.

[QUOTE=Soundwave]Yeah I read that too. The only big downside is apparently performance for returning players took a big hit, as in they were never quite the same afterwards.

Maybe Kobe can come back and be a 19-21 ppg player.[/QUOTE]

Different sport too. the demands on an NFL player are different, usually involves not just moving your weight but that of a man of similar size who doesn't want to be moved.

We'll see Kobe has surprised us all for years now. Doubters had said he'd be washed up by now and that was far from true.

Fact is even a Kobe Bryant playing at 85% is still better than most the league will ever dream of being. He's also smart and will adapt his game to fill in the gaps

[QUOTE=Soundwave]
Apparently this happened to Kobe's stronger foot too, which is bad because that's the foot he uses to explode off of.[/QUOTE]
Yup

[QUOTE=Soundwave]Billups had a complete Achilles tear too right? He was back in about 10 months, but definitely not the same player.

2011-12 Season - 15 ppg, 4 apg

2012-13 Season - 8.2 ppg, 2.2 apg[/QUOTE]

Will be tough for him to come back the same no doubt...

Personally I think it's going to be a stretch for Kobe to come back and be a role player, because that what he's going to be.

He will have aged another year, the rest of his body will have weakened and won't have the same feel for the game after being away from so long, and more importantly he will have to play the game with effectively a different speed and agility to which he has become accustomed to.

Quite possible he make the one game come back like Charles Barkely did.

Takes a couple of jumpers in that game, and than retire.

I'm pretty sure he could come back and be an effective player, just his days of 25+ ppg are quite probably over.

He will probably have to learn to retool his game to be the second banana to Dwight.

[QUOTE=Soundwave]I'm pretty sure he could come back and be an effective player, just his days of 25+ ppg are quite probably over.

He will probably have to learn to retool his game to be the second banana to Dwight.[/QUOTE]
hopefully third banana by the 2014-15 season.

[QUOTE=Soundwave]Yeah I read that too. The only big downside is apparently performance for returning players took a big hit, as in they were never quite the same afterwards.

Maybe Kobe can come back and be a 19-21 ppg player.

Apparently this happened to Kobe's stronger foot too, which is bad because that's the foot he uses to explode off of.[/QUOTE]

From what I can see it's the terminology being used. "Complete tear", etc. is randomly used to describe different injuries.

What Kobe had was the injury wear the tendon is severed and the foot is basically dead. That's why it did not hurt, because the foot goes numb and you can't even feel it.

What these other guys had was a "complete tear"........but the tendon is still alive and not dead. Two totally different injuries. Kobe's injury is much much more severe.

[QUOTE=stevieming]Personally I think it's going to be a stretch for Kobe to come back and be a role player, because that what he's going to be.

He will have aged another year, the rest of his body will have weakened and won't have the same feel for the game after being away from so long, and more importantly he will have to play the game with effectively a different speed and agility to which he has become accustomed to.

Quite possible he make the one game come back like Charles Barkely did.

Takes a couple of jumpers in that game, and than retire.[/QUOTE]

This, and it's unforunate. I wanted Kobe to go out at full strength losing the playoffs, not this.

Its weird. As someone who coudn't stand Bryant all these years I feel a strang kinship with him since I had the same injury, done pretty much the same way.

Sorry to tell you this but I don't think a lot of people understand how devestating this injury is, especially to get it at his age. He will not be the same and it's a grueling recovery proces. I have a scar that goes from mid calf to my heel.

[QUOTE=Knoe Itawl]This, and it's unforunate. I wanted Kobe to go out at full strength losing the playoffs, not this.

Its weird. As someone who coudn't stand Bryant all these years I feel a strang kinship with him since I had the same injury, done pretty much the same way.

Sorry to tell you this but I don't think a lot of people understand how devestating this injury is, especially to get it at his age. He will not be the same and it's a grueling recovery proces. I have a scar that goes from mid calf to my heel.[/QUOTE]
:( Do you think he'll even be able to come back at all? Or do you think that he's going to hang up the laces?

[QUOTE=Doranku]:( Do you think he'll even be able to come back at all? Or do you think that he's going to hang up the laces?[/QUOTE]

Well, I didnt have the same kind of medical staff Kobe does of course but I had my surgery and rehab at Lenox Hill hospital here in NYC which is one of the best in the city. I didn't play again for about two and a half years, and a lot of it is mental because the injury happens so freakishly that you're scared that the slightest thing you do will cause it to happen again. But my leg has never and will never be the same. I still feel the tightess and it's weaker than my other. He can get back but won't be nearly the same player and given his pride I'd expect him to come back to go out on his terms, not to be a major impact player.

[QUOTE=Knoe Itawl]He can get back but won't be nearly the same player and given his pride I'd expect him to come back to go out on his terms, not to be a major impact player.[/QUOTE]


Same here. 95% chance he will be nowhere near as good as he was up to 2 days ago, and a reasonable chance not playing a meaningful game ver again. He will come back, for a game or for half a season, he will realize he is not what he once was and given his pride he will retire soon after, this is my best guess.

Sad.

My personal feeling is he can still be a 18-22 ppg player for another year and be the second banana to Dwight in the offense, if his ego will allow for that.

There's nothing really wrong with that and a fat $30 million dollars to collect. Why not.

[QUOTE=Knoe Itawl]This, and it's unforunate. I wanted Kobe to go out at full strength losing the playoffs, not this.

Its weird. As someone who coudn't stand Bryant all these years I feel a strang kinship with him since I had the same injury, done pretty much the same way.

Sorry to tell you this but I don't think a lot of people understand how devestating this injury is, especially to get it at his age. He will not be the same and it's a grueling recovery proces. I have a scar that goes from mid calf to my heel.[/QUOTE]
Irony.

The most psycho Kobe hater of all-time, gains sympathy and kinship in what might be Bryant's final moments in the league as we know him.

[QUOTE=SamuraiSWISH]Irony.

The most psycho Kobe hater of all-time, gains sympathy and kinship in what might be Bryant's final moments in the league as we know him.[/QUOTE]

Sh!t, I guess I'm on that list too :confusedshrug: :oldlol:

[QUOTE=Soundwave]My personal feeling is he can still be a 18-22 ppg player for another year and be the second banana to Dwight in the offense, if his ego will allow for that.

There's nothing really wrong with that and a fat $30 million dollars to collect. Why not.[/QUOTE]

I seriously doubt he will be in a position to play competitive basketball next year. If he does come back next season it will probably be for his farewell game, like Barkley did. I'd put my money on him coming back in the 2014-2015 season, play mediocre for half a year, sit out most of the season with a few minor injuries and hang it up.

A fully torn Achilles at age 35 is too much. I know he is a warrior but he is human.

In a sense, he went out on top. He had a couple of great games, had that superb performance vs. Portland just 2 games prior to his injury. He was playing great basketball, he didn't become a shell of his former self. Watching him play in his (potentially) last season was great. You didn't have to feel sorry for him until the very end. He made his last two three point shots, he made his last two free throws. He scored his teams last 8 points, brought them back from a 6 point deficit with 3 minutes left. Swished his free throws knowing it is the end of his season and had the balls to discuss it with the media right away. To me, that is going out on top.

Wizards Jordan was a mistake. It shouldn't have happened. A 14/3/5 Kobe on 28 mpg would be a mistake that shoudln't happen either. He has very little chance of being close to the same player he was until yesterday. If he can, he should play. If he cannot, he shouldn't.

[QUOTE=kuniva_dAMiGhTy]Sh!t, I guess I'm on that list too :confusedshrug: :oldlol:[/QUOTE]
Nah, Niva ...

You always gave him credit when it was due. Knoe never did that, why would you even compare yourself to such a nut bag? Guy would go on rants or gloat about Kobe's struggles, and then disappeared for TWO WHOLE YEARS when Kobe was successful in 2009 and 2010. Reappears when he fails.

I saw you give Kobe kudos just the other day for his 2 straight epic performances, playing THE RIGHT way. Don't put yourself in his category. You didn't like Kobe, sure. You weren't a psycho about it. And you were objective enough to give him props when deserved.

[QUOTE=SamuraiSWISH]Irony.

The most psycho Kobe hater of all-time, gains sympathy and kinship in what might be Bryant's final moments in the league as we know him.[/QUOTE]

The funny thing is, only Bryant stans over the years have ever used a term like "psycho hater" to describe me. I've acutally had pretty cordial relationships with non psycho Bean fans over the years, and many have agreed with what a lot that I've written about him. At any rate, I'm not going to use this situation to argue about my feelings on Bryant as I don't find it appropriate so if you respond you'll be talking to yourself from this point on.

Oh, and a true "psycho hater" would revel in this injury, not feel compassion towards it.

[QUOTE=elementally morale]I seriously doubt he will be in a position to play competitive basketball next year. If he does come back next season it will probably be for his farewell game, like Barkley did. I'd put my money on him coming back in the 2014-2015 season, play mediocre for half a year, sit out most of the season with a few minor injuries and hang it up.

A fully torn Achilles at age 35 is too much. I know he is a warrior but he is human.

In a sense, he went out on top. He had a couple of great games, had that superb performance vs. Portland just 2 games prior to his injury. He was playing great basketball, he didn't become a shell of his former self. Watching him play in his (potentially) last season was great. You didn't have to feel sorry for him until the very end. He made his last two three point shots, he made his last two free throws. He scored his teams last 8 points, brought them back from a 6 point deficit with 3 minutes left. Swished his free throws knowing it is the end of his season and had the balls to discuss it with the media right away. To me, that is going out on top.

Wizards Jordan was a mistake. It shouldn't have happened. A 14/3/5 Kobe on 28 mpg would be a mistake that shoudln't happen either. He has very little chance of being close to the same player he was until yesterday. If he can, he should play. If he cannot, he shouldn't.[/QUOTE]

If Billups can make it back I'm sure Kobe will too.

He just won't be the same player. Wizards-era Jordan might be a good comparable actually.

[QUOTE=kuniva_dAMiGhTy]Sh!t, I guess I'm on that list too :confusedshrug: :oldlol:[/QUOTE]

Come on. It is to be expected. All intelligent 'haters' happen to gain respect for players after they are gone (or are at the very end of their careers). An intelligent hater spends so much of his time on players only if the player is worth to spend time on. And when he is gone for whatever reason, the hater will realize a few things. It is an ongiong process, it lasts years, decades.

I should know, I was a Jordan hater between 85-98.

Knoe Itawl gaining sympathy for Kobe in his final moments as the player we will ultimately remember him to be ...

Is like that BTAS episode when Batman "dies" and the Joker feels depressed about basically losing his reason to exist.

Or Superman dying, and Lex Luthor feeling sad because he wasn't the one to be the orchestrator of his death.

Ridiculous haha ... guy never gave him props when deserved, hated on him at times for absurd reasons, psychotic rage towards him and would use the most ridiculous and extreme analogies to justify his hate for a BASKETBALL player and now gains sympathy.

Oh, the irony.

[QUOTE=Soundwave]If Billups can make it back I think Kobe will too.
He just won't be the same player.[/QUOTE]

And that is sad to see. Like when Houston traded Hakeem or the Knicks traded Ewing.

Yes, Kobe can come back. I for one hope he will come back 18 months from now, being just as good as he was yesterday. But the chances of this happening are slim to none. He most probably will return early 2014, be a mediocre player for the remainder of the season and call it quits. Sadly, that is what I think will happen.

I don't think being a 18-21 ppg player is "mediocre", lol. It will be a step down for Kobe though.

I hope Kobe will be back, but, I truly fear that his days of being a top tier superstar may be over.

[QUOTE=SamuraiSWISH]Nah, Niva ...

You always gave him credit when it was due. Knoe never did that, why would you even compare yourself to such a nut bag? Guy would go on rants or gloat about Kobe's struggles, and then disappeared for TWO WHOLE YEARS when Kobe was successful in 2009 and 2010. Reappears when he fails.


I saw you give Kobe kudos just the other day for his 2 straight epic performances, playing THE RIGHT way. Don't put yourself in his category. You didn't like Kobe, sure. You weren't a psycho about it. And you were objective enough to give him props when deserved.[/QUOTE]

I appreciate that, Swish. :cheers:

About "Knowitawl"- haven't seen anything from him that would indicate psychotic behavior, but I've heard stories. Posters that knew him from the EZ boards swear this dude was/is bat-shit insane. :lol

[QUOTE=elementally morale]
I should know, I was a Jordan hater between 85-98.[/QUOTE]
That would make you a dumb ass homer, though. Probably for the Lakers, I assume? Or just really immature.

Anyone who loves and appreciates the game first and foremost, roots for greatness or at the very least appreciates transcendent talent when it's in front of them

There is plenty of players I didn't like, but appreciated and respected their abilities on the court. There has never been a great player I "hated" or didn't appreciate their game until they were gone.

That's just silly. I really disliked LeBron in 2011, and through most of 2012. I never sat there once he kicked it to a new level in the 2012 playoffs where I didn't sit there and appreciate the legend that was unfolding in front of my eyes.

[QUOTE=Soundwave]If Billups can make it back I'm sure Kobe will too.

He just won't be the same player. Wizards-era Jordan might be a good comparable actually.[/QUOTE]

Again, Billups did not have the same injury Kobe has. Kobe's injury is worse.

[QUOTE=SamuraiSWISH]Knoe Itawl gaining sympathy for Kobe in his final moments as the player we will ultimately remember him to be ...

Is like that BTAS episode when Batman "dies" and the Joker feels depressed about basically losing his reason to exist.

Or Superman dying, and Lex Luthor feeling sad because he wasn't the one to be the orchestrator of his death.

Ridiculous haha ... guy never gave him props when deserved, hated on him at times for absurd reasons, psychotic rage towards him and would use the most ridiculous and extreme analogies to justify his hate for a BASKETBALL player and now gains sympathy.

Oh, the irony.[/QUOTE]

You're a clown. I actually gave him props plenty of times over the years, never displayed a "psychotic rage" towards him or any of the other bs you're saying. In fact, I frequently stated that while I didn't care for Bryant personally, it was his hype and more extreme fans that I was speaking about about more than anything else. It's funny when someone is such a dikkrider that they dont' get that not liking a player, feeling he's overrated, etc. has nothing to do with whether you can feel compassion towards them if they hae a devestating injury. Especially one you personally know a lot about. Go f&ck yourself, in short.

The realy irony also is the "pshcyotic rage" dikkriding clowns like yourself have had toward me over the years. So much so that even when I'm expressing sympathy for him you can't hold it in. Clown.

[QUOTE=Knoe Itawl] I've acutally had pretty cordial relationships with non psycho Bean fans over the years, and many have agreed with what a lot that I've written about him.[/QUOTE]

True.

I agreed with many of your points. Argued some others, but I know it's just points of views. I decided to like the guy and you decided to not like the guy. It's as simple as that. You can justify your feelings/decisions all the time if you are intelligent enough.

I happened to like him not because I didin't see his faults but because his weaknesses entertained me. I loved the fact he could be a prick the way he was and is a prick. He is by no means a role model to me, but he was a very entertaining character, especially on the court, some of the time even off it.

[QUOTE=elementally morale]Come on. It is to be expected. All intelligent 'haters' happen to gain respect for players after they are gone (or are at the very end of their careers). An intelligent hater spends so much of his time on players only if the player is worth to spend time on. And when he is gone for whatever reason, the hater will realize a few things. It is an ongiong process, it lasts years, decades.

I should know, I was a Jordan hater between 85-98.[/QUOTE]

Same here, I hated MJ and when he left I started collecting his cards and then looked back and realized he was amazing. Same thing is happening to me with Kobe. I'm appreciating him more at the end of his career.

[QUOTE=Haymaker]Same here, I hated MJ and when he left I started collecting his cards and then looked back and realized he was amazing. Same thing is happening to me with Kobe. I'm appreciating him more at the end of his career.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I hated Jordan when he was a player. When he retired, I learned to appreciate being able to witness the greatest ever.

[QUOTE=elementally morale]Come on. It is to be expected. All intelligent 'haters' happen to gain respect for players after they are gone (or are at the very end of their careers). An intelligent hater spends so much of his time on players only if the player is worth to spend time on. And when he is gone for whatever reason, the hater will realize a few things. It is an ongiong process, it lasts years, decades.

I should know, I was a Jordan hater between 85-98.[/QUOTE]

Good point.

The thing is, I don't think I would even classify myself as a 'hater'. Ya, sure..I cant stand some aspects of Kobe's personality. The guy can be a HUGE twit, but I don't "hate" him....never did.

[QUOTE=Haymaker]Same here, I hated MJ and when he left I started collecting his cards and then looked back and realized he was amazing. Same thing is happening to me with Kobe. I'm appreciating him more at the end of his career.[/QUOTE]

Do you respect him though? There are some dudes I could probably be conceived as being a "hater" of....but I've always appreciated their talent. It's just I don''t respect their approach to the game - or at times their approach to life in general (the latter is probably a reach - but it's reality).

[QUOTE=kuniva_dAMiGhTy]I hope Kobe will be back, but, I truly fear that his days of being a top tier superstar may be over.[/quote]
They probably will be over. He's up there in age for NBA ball, tons of mileage, a devastating injury that in actuality takes like a year of recovery just to be physically able to move around, let alone compete in the most elite basketball league.

If he does go out on this note, it's kind of fitting. 3 straight great games to lead his team into the playoffs. Playing every minute of the games.

He balled to his wheels fell off. I respect that. I don't want to see him come back and blow something else out at an even more advanced age 35 or 36 years old. It will basically be a rough equivalent to what we saw of "Wizards Mike" after he messed up his knee half way into that 2002 season.

MJ gave us glimpses of the past, showed just how great he was at times dominating players half his age. But it wasn't consistent. I rather remember a guy they way they were when at their best. I don't want to see Kobe make the same mistake, with an even worse injury. Especially if he holds himself to a standard.

I never wanted to see MJ dip below 20 ppg. He ALMOST did that ... I can't see Kobe accepting something like that either. I'd like to see him come back, for a game or maybe half a season just to show he made it back. Then bow out on HIS terms. He won't be the same though, that's for certain.

[QUOTE=kuniva_dAMiGhTy]I appreciate that, Swish. :cheers:[/quote]
You're my dude, I got your back.

[QUOTE=kuniva_dAMiGhTy]About "Knowitawl"- haven't seen anything from him that would indicate psychotic behavior, but I've heard stories. Posters that knew him from the EZ boards swear this dude was/is bat-shit insane. :lol[/QUOTE]
You've never seen some of his rants? His frightening analogies used to justify his disdain for a ball player he's never even met? LOL ...

You've been here a long while, I know you have had to have seen instances of his psychotic behavior. I mean his whole reason for existing on these boards was to hate on Bryant with a passion. That alone is disturbing. He was like ripthekik with even more screws loose. What seemed like a violent personality underneath his gimmick.

[QUOTE=SamuraiSWISH]That would make you a dumb ass homer, though. Probably for the Lakers, I assume? Or just really immature.[/QUOTE]

A combination of the above. :oldlol:

I was 12 and a Laker fan when I started disliking MJ. It was due to his style of play. I was already playing organized basketball at the time. In Europe. I played PG-SG, and I heard team-team-team-team... nonstop from my coaches. Then came this MJ guy with his indvidualistic shit. (It's 85-86-87... remember that.) And he lost. And he lost again.

I started to dislike him at a young age, tried everything to justify me dislike later on and it remained that way until I became 25. It's not uncommon at all.