The Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant will miss the remainder of the NBA season because of a nagging left knee injury.
The 35-year-old, who inspired the Lakers to five NBA titles from 2000 to 2010 and helped the United States capture Olympic gold in 2008 and 2012, has been recovering from a left knee fracture.
After Bryant was examined on Wednesday a by team physician, the doctor decided that Bryant's injury has not healed requiring the Lakers to let him rest till next season.
Bryant returned earlier this season from an Achilles tendon tear after seven and a half months of rehabilitation and played only six games before being sidelined in mid-December with the fractured left knee, which at first it was thought would see him miss only six weeks.
Despite the injury, Bryant was voted into the NBA All-Star Game by fans, but he was unable to play in last month's elite showdown of top talent.
