By Jillian Martin and Jason Moon, CNN
(CNN) — Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant will be out for six to nine months after rupturing his Achilles tendon, a Lakers Twitter message said Saturday, citing team trainer Gary Vitti.
The injury occurred Friday against the Golden State Warriors. The news came after Bryan had an MRI.
Asked if the timetable means Bryant will be back next season, Vitti said on Twitter “that’s the plan.”
A ruptured Achilles could take up to a year to heal, according to Will Carroll, sports injuries lead writer for Bleacher Report. Bryant has previously said that next season could be his last in the NBA. This is the 16th season in the league for the 34-year-old.
Bryant, who averages 27.3 points per game, reacted with disappointment on social media after the injury. On his Facebook page he posted a lengthy update:
“This is such BS! All the training and sacrifice just flew out the window with one step that I’ve done millions of times! The frustration is unbearable. The anger is rage. Why the hell did this happen ?!? Makes no damn sense. Now I’m supposed to come back from this and be the same player Or better at 35?!? How in the world am I supposed to do that??
“I have NO CLUE. Do I have the consistent will to overcome this thing? Maybe I should break out the rocking chair and reminisce on the career that was. Maybe this is how my book ends. Maybe Father Time has defeated me.”
Later, Bryant called the injury the first step in a new challenge.
“One day, the beginning of a new career journey will commence. Today is NOT that day,” he wrote. The post received more than 136,000 likes.
According to an earlier tweet from the Lakers, Bryant could tell what the injury was before seeing a doctor.
“I was just hoping it wasn’t what I thought it was,” Bryant said, according to the tweet.
The Lakers have two games left in the regular season, both at home. They face the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday and the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.
After beating the Warriors 118-116, the team is one game ahead of the Utah Jazz for the final spot in the NBA’s Western Conference playoffs.
