Latest news: Kobe Bryant will not have surgery

September 9, 12:53 PMSports ExaminerPaula Duffy

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As reported today on Kobe Bryant's own website, he has chosen not to have the surgery on his pinkie that has been looming over the Lakers since February. Bryant says that when he learned the recovery could take up to 3 months he said heck no.

When it occurred seven months ago, the injury, a torn tendon in his right pinkie finger, was considered severe and the Lakers sat with Bryant and the doctors to determine if he could play through it with a bandaged solution.

Bryant wanted to try and after an adjustment period when he learned to play with an originally designed sling-like contraption from the Lakers' team trainer, Gary Vitti, the team and he held their breath and agreed he would ride this fix as long as it worked. It worked all through the Lakers triumph as Western Conference champs and the team's bitter defeat in the NBA finals.

Then came the Olympics. The Lakers weren't keen on him competing but knew they had no chance of keeping Bryant from what he saw as his role in redeeming the U.S. Olympic basketball team's recent defeats. Thus, he put off the surgery again and promised that after China, he'd quickly go under the knife and be recovered for the commencement of the 2008 NBA season.

Although his shooting percentage in Beijing wasn't what we are all used to, he showed up big when needed and helped bring home the gold medal for the U.S. The injury was a non-factor according to Bryant.

He had reinforced his decision to seek surgery only a few days ago, and now this. Is he just a drama queen or can he truly not need surgery on a torn ligament or tendon on his right hand? Any doctors out there to help me out?