Los Angeles Lakers: Top 5 injuries Kobe Bryant played through

3. 2013: Achilles tendon tear

This one is definitely a stretch, as nobody can play through an Achilles injury. This is one of the very few injuries Kobe was not able to overcome, only because he could not physically walk. The damage came during the infamous “Now this is going to be fun”  2012-2013 Laker season.

Dwight Howard was recovering from back surgery, Steve Nash rarely play because of various injuries, Mike D’Antoni was struggling to work with the roster, and the Lakers were not even in the playoff picture yet.

In patterned Kobe fashion he said this, as the Lakers saw the playoffs from an outside perspective:

“It’s not a question of if we make the playoffs. We will,” Kobe told Sports Illustrated. “And when we get there, I have no fear of anyone — Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Denver, whoever. I have zero nervousness about that.”

The injury took place on April 12th, 2013, with just two games left in the regular season, and the Lakers hanging on for dear life to their playoff hopes. Kobe drove the ball late in the fourth quarter and immediately went down, holding his ankle. The crowd got silent but not as silent when they realized Kobe was never going to be the same again.

Most players who tear their Achilles get carried off the court, but Kobe limped up to the free throw line and nailed both attempts. The Lakers would end up winning the game 118-116 and making the playoffs by one game.

Even though they got swept by the Spurs in the first round, Kobe made due on his promise that they would make the playoffs.