Lakers guard Kobe Bryant has torn rotator cuff in right shoulder

An MRI on Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant's right shoulder Thursday revealed a torn rotator cuff, the team announced.

An MRI on Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant's right shoulder Thursday revealed a torn rotator cuff, the team announced. 

Bryant was injured in the third quarter of the Lakers' 96-80 road loss against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday after going for a dunk. He left the game but returned in the fourth quarter.

Bryant will fly back to Los Angeles to be examined by team doctors. An update on his condition is expected Friday, the team said.

“I’ve played with a torn labrum, so I’m not too concerned," Bryant said after Wednesday's game, according to the Los Angeles Times. "I'm not too concerned about it. We make a lot of it, but the reality is I'm doing some pretty phenomenal things in 30 minutes [a game]."

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Bryant said he couldn't figure out what made his shoulder hurt but attempted to shoot jumpers with his left hand.

"I felt fine when I went up, didn't feel too good when I came down," he said.

Bryant is averaging 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists this season for the Lakers (12-31), who have lost six games in a row.

- Scooby Axson