Bryant tears ligament in finger

Surgery, or just treatment, is the difficult question for Kobe, with the playoffs drawing close
The Los Angeles Lakers announced on Thursday that Kobe Bryant has been diagnosed with a finger injury that may require surgery.Bryant has suffered a complete tear of the radial collateral ligament and a volar plate injury at the MCP joint of the small finger of his right hand.Surgery was recommended for the injury, which would sideline Bryant six weeks although the perennial All-Star wants to put it off for the time being."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.

"But, this is an injury that myself and the Lakers' medical staff will just have to continue to monitor on a day-to-day basis.