18/07/2006
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USA - Knee-op knocks Kobe out of FIBA World Championship
::WIN a trip to the FIBA World Championship Finals weekend ::
COLORADO SPRINGS (FIBA World Championship) - Team USA's superstar guard Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers will miss the FIBA World Championship following a minor knee operation.
Bryant had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Friday and will need eight to 12 weeks to recover. The surgery involved minor treatment of cartilage and removal of scar tissue.
Bryant will maintain his role as a member of Team USA while limiting his participation during his physical therapy recovery process.
"We trust that Kobe will have a total and speedy recovery, and we were pleased that he expressed a willingness to remain as involved with our team as possible through this process," USA Basketball Senior National Team managing director Jerry Colangelo said. "Kobe being with the team will add to our team chemistry and his presence will help provide valuable off court leadership."
Bryant, who turns 28, next month, won the scoring title with a 35.4 average this past season - his 10th with the Lakers.
The United States lost to Yugoslavia in the quarter-finals at the FIBA World Championship in Indianapolis four years ago and in 2004, Larry Brown's US side had to settle for a bronze medal at the Athens Olympics. Bryant was to be in that team but had to miss the tournament due to personal problems.
Bryant's operation completes a very difficult week for the United States. USA Basketball announced on Thursday that Lamar Odom of Lakers, Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics and JJ Redick of the Orlando Magic will not participate in the training camp.
Odom, a member of the 2004 Olympic team that captured the bronze medal, will miss the camp for personal reasons after the death of his infant daughter.
Pierce, the leading scorer on the 2002 USA World Championship Team, is expected to have minor surgery on his left elbow in August. Redick is unable to participate due to back problems. After training camp, the roster will be whittled to 15 players, then trimmed to 12 for the World Championships, which begin August 19 in Japan.
The U.S. is in Group D with 2004 Olympic silver medalist Italy, Puerto Rico, Slovenia, China and Senegal.
The winner of the 24-nation World Championships receives an automatic berth to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. If Team USA does not win, it must qualify through the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship.
By PA Sport
COLORADO SPRINGS (FIBA World Championship) - Team USA's superstar guard Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers will miss the FIBA World Championship following a minor knee operation.
Bryant had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Friday and will need eight to 12 weeks to recover. The surgery involved minor treatment of cartilage and removal of scar tissue.
Bryant will maintain his role as a member of Team USA while limiting his participation during his physical therapy recovery process.
"We trust that Kobe will have a total and speedy recovery, and we were pleased that he expressed a willingness to remain as involved with our team as possible through this process," USA Basketball Senior National Team managing director Jerry Colangelo said. "Kobe being with the team will add to our team chemistry and his presence will help provide valuable off court leadership."
Bryant, who turns 28, next month, won the scoring title with a 35.4 average this past season - his 10th with the Lakers.
The United States lost to Yugoslavia in the quarter-finals at the FIBA World Championship in Indianapolis four years ago and in 2004, Larry Brown's US side had to settle for a bronze medal at the Athens Olympics. Bryant was to be in that team but had to miss the tournament due to personal problems.
Bryant's operation completes a very difficult week for the United States. USA Basketball announced on Thursday that Lamar Odom of Lakers, Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics and JJ Redick of the Orlando Magic will not participate in the training camp.
Odom, a member of the 2004 Olympic team that captured the bronze medal, will miss the camp for personal reasons after the death of his infant daughter.
Pierce, the leading scorer on the 2002 USA World Championship Team, is expected to have minor surgery on his left elbow in August. Redick is unable to participate due to back problems. After training camp, the roster will be whittled to 15 players, then trimmed to 12 for the World Championships, which begin August 19 in Japan.
The U.S. is in Group D with 2004 Olympic silver medalist Italy, Puerto Rico, Slovenia, China and Senegal.
The winner of the 24-nation World Championships receives an automatic berth to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. If Team USA does not win, it must qualify through the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship.
By PA Sport
