Kobe Bryant reportedly out for rest of season

Kobe Bryant has played at least 50 games every other season of his career. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

As expected, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant will miss the rest of this season with a fracture of the lateral tibial plateau in his left knee, as first reported by Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report and later confirmed by ESPN's Chris Broussard.

Bryant played only six games this season, as he suffered the knee injury shortly after his return from last season's torn Achilles.

The five-time NBA champion, who signed a two-year, $48.5 million extension in November, averaged 13.8 points and 6.3 assists in 29.5 minutes per game this season, and the Lakers (22-42) were 2-4 with him in the lineup.

Bryant called his recovery "a slow process" at a press conference in New Orleans during All-Star weekend last month.

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