Los Angeles Lakers: Top 5 injuries Kobe Bryant played through

4. 2008: A torn ligament on shooting hand

This injury was announced by the Lakers in February 2008, months before the Kobe would take the Lakers to the Finals with an injured back. Initially, the diagnosis was Kobe could miss up to six weeks, but Kobe was having none of that, stating:

“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,” Bryant said. “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.”

This quote sums up Kobe’s attitude towards his injuries. Can I still walk? Then do what you can to get me back out on the court.

This came about 90 days before Kobe won his one and only regular season MVP award, and at the time was second in the league in scoring behind Lebron James but would overtake this crown by 83 points in the end.

After the injury was announced February 14th, the Lakers would go on to win the next nine out of 10 games, finishing the season as the No. 1 seed in the West. Kobe ignored the doctors’ recommendation for surgery and even went on the play in the 2008 Olympics with the injury.

Kobe never had the surgery at all, and simply adjusted his game to the injury going forward.