Kobe Bryant has a torn rotator cuff

Is this the end for Kobe Bryant?

The Los Angeles Lakers have announced that Kobe suffered a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder during the second half of Wednesday night’s loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. He will not play against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday and will instead be evaluated further by team doctors.

Orthopedic surgeon David J. Chao, who is familiar with Bryant’s injury, reports that Kobe could either need surgery and be out for the season if he has a full tear or simply need rest and rehab if it is a partial tear.

There’s no questioning Kobe’s toughness. He returned to Wednesday’s game after suffering the injury and was in obvious pain, even shooting a jump shot with his left hand at one point. He later downplayed the injury.

“I’ve played on a torn labrum before,” Bryant said, via Baxter Holmes of ESPNLosAngeles.com. “I’m not too concerned about it.”

Lakers head coach Byron Scott said that Kobe could play sparingly depending on the extent of the injury, but isn’t that what he has been doing already? Bryant has sat out eight games over the last month just to preserve his body.

The issue for the Lakers is they have to tread the line between Kobe playing too much and too little. If he plays too much, he could continue to wear down and decide to retire rather than return for the final year of his contract next season. If the team shuts Kobe down, prospective free agents might be more likely to think that he has nothing left in the tank.

Then again, we have heard rumblings about free agents not wanting to sign with the Lakers because of Kobe. Maybe his run has simply come to an end.