During the loss to the Sacramento Kings in Las Vegas earlier this week, Kobe Bryant suffered a lower leg contusion.
Bryant headed to the locker room to get the injury checked out and was ruled out for the rest of the game after the initial diagnosis.
After Thursday’s practice in El Segundo, head coach Byron Scott provided an update on Bryant’s status, via Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News.
Byron maintained Kobe's injury is "not serious" despite not practicing today
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) October 15, 2015
With Kobe struggling to stay healthy over the course of the last few years, the team continues to take a cautious approach with the veteran. Bryant sat out of Thursday’s practice due to the injury with his status uncertain for the team’s preseason game on Saturday against the Golden State Warriors.
Coach Scott has said that Bryant should be ready for Saturday’s game in San Diego, but that stance could easily change in the coming days. There’s no reason to risk Kobe’s health with the regular season only two weeks away. That being said, if he continues to sit out practice sessions, the five-time NBA champion may very well sit out against the Warriors.
The Lakers will face the Warriors on Saturday at the Valley View Casino Arena and head back to the Staples Center on Monday to take on the visiting Portland Trail Blazers. The final preseason game will be held on Thursday, Oct. 22 at the Honda Center with the Lakers taking on the Warriors for a second and final time in the preseason finale.
