Kobe Bryant’s torn Achilles tendon has been blamed on coach Mike D’Antoni for not managing better the Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar’s minutes. But his trainer, Tim Grover had a simple reason: a freak accident.
“It had nothing to do with the minutes he had been playing or anything of that sort,” Grover said in a phone interview with the Los Angeles Daily News. “A torn Achilles tendon is a very freaky injury. It’s just one of those things that just happened.”
Grover conceded the possibility that Bryant’s torn Achilles tendon could stem from the bone spurs in his left foot that he has had “for a while.” But Grover said it’s common for anyone to suffer the injury through everyday movements, such as climbing out of bed or stepping off a sidewalk.
Bryant has averaged more than 45 minutes a game in April, which is high considering his age, years in the NBA and how hard he plays. He had surgery on Saturday and he is expected to be out six to nine months.
“Everybody is trying to look at somebody to blame for it, whether it be the coaching staff, Kobe, me or whatever it is. But everyone who is involved with him has to take responsibility in this. But it’s more of a freakish injury than anything else.”
