You Will Not Be Represented By Kobe Bryant This Summer

Reports (from no less than the awesome "ESPN.com news services") are surfacing that Kobe Bryant had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee this summer, and thus, won't be suiting up for Team USA's training camp, or pre-World Championship tour. The surgery itself is described as minor, but it is going to require 8 to 12 weeks of recovery time.

So Kobe adds his name to the list of players who have pulled out of the training camp, including Paul Pierce, Lamar Odom, and J.J. Redick. Pierce is having elbow surgery, Lamar Odom tragically lost his 6-month-old son Jayden, and J.J. Redick's had problems with his back and a breathalyzer.

Kobe has an expressed a desire, to be with Team USA as he rehabs, attending both the training camp and this summer's games, which seems like a much better idea than, say, rehabbing at a hotel in Eagle County, Colorado. He might want to avoid that.

Kobe won't play for USA after knee surgery [ESPN.com news services]