Kobe Bryant Retiring? Injured LA Lakers Star Career Over After Rotator Cuff Injury? Will He Return, Or Is This The End For NBA's Black Mamba?

Kobe Bryant suffered a torn rotator cuff in the Los Angeles Lakers loss to the New Orleans Pelicans last night, and the team report that he will fly back to LA to be examined by team doctors, missing the team's game against reigning NBA champion San Antonio Spurs this Friday. It raises the question of, after three straight seasons of major injuries whether or not, the 36 year old superstar will retire, or play out the last remaining year on his mammoth contract. If he undergoes surgery, it could mean a six month long recovery, if it's a similar injury to the torn rotator cuff suffered by the Spurs Patty Mills.

Update: Kobe Bryant had an MRI exam, preliminary results show a tear of the rotator cuff. He will fly back to LA. pic.twitter.com/EOZTuuKjoL

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 22, 2015

As Yahoo! Sports's Marc J Spears reports, Kobe "left the game with a sore right shoulder in the third quarter. He returned in the fourth and shot twice left-handed but was unable to finish the contest."

Check out Kobe shooting left handed below:

BREAKING: Kobe Bryant has a torn rotator cuff, preliminary results from MRI show. pic.twitter.com/uTdYcOcohn — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 22, 2015

"I've played on a torn labrum before," Bryant said after the game - in which he scored 14 points in 30 total minutes. "I'm not too concerned about it."

After the game Kobe said that his shoulder "Felt fine when I went up, didn't feel so good when I came down."

Kobe: "Felt fine when I went up, didn't feel so good when I came down."

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 22, 2015

 He added that "I've played with a torn labrum, so I'm not too concerned."

Kobe: "I've played with a torn labrum, so I'm not too concerned." Says it's too early to get worried about this being a long term injury.

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 22, 2015

 And at the time he believed he'd be fine...

Kobe: "Stretching, ice bath tonight when we get to San Antonio, do my strength training in the morning. Go about my normal routine."

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 22, 2015

But, as SB Nation's Drew Garrison points out, a lot of the problem nows stems from coach Byron Scott's decision to let Kobe back into the game with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, after he injured the shoulder in the third, even if Kobe believed he could play left handed.

Byron Scott's explanation on putting Kobe back in the game is.... something https://t.co/fLCkSoCdJo pic.twitter.com/NRqmmLs0Y4

— Silver Screen & Roll (@LakersSBN) January 22, 2015

The Orange County Register's Janice Carr reported that Scott told reporters after the game: "I don't know if he (Kobe) thought he would be that limited....He always says he has two arms."

BScott: "I don't know if he (Kobe) thought he would be that limited....He always says he has two arms."

— janis carr (@janiscarr) January 22, 2015 

As ESPN's Baxter Holmes reports, "Bryant checked back in with five minutes left in the fourth quarter and immediately favored his shoulder. He tried to rebound and dribble with his left hand, but it became clear something was wrong when he shot and made a turnaround 14-foot jumper with just his left hand."

RECAP: @PelicansNBA handle @Lakers; @kobebryant suffers shoulder injury https://t.co/XyJvzrfUvY #Pelicans #Lakers pic.twitter.com/paheCPs48L — NBA.com (@NBAcom) January 22, 2015

They add that Lakers coach Byron Scott said after the game "Obviously after I saw that everything he did was with the left hand, I knew then, let's get him out of there."

As CBS Sports NBA writer Matt Moore says, who know if we've seen the end of Kobe Bean Bryant, NBA basketball player, pointing out that "no one chooses when," but it's a hard ask to doubt Kobe of anything.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst believes that Kobe should shut it down, as Kobe and the Lakers need to be thinking about the future, even if it means that Kobe misses the season.

What do you think? Will Kobe try to play through it? As Gary Kester says, Kobe's mammoth contract will pay him $25 million next year, which is a lot of money to *not* earn.

I can give you 25 million reasons why Kobe won't retire after this season.

— Gary Kester (@garykester) January 22, 2015

Either way, his wife Vanessa Bryant instagrammed out a nice message for her husband once the torn rotator news broke. And you get the feeling he'll take the message to heart. He's terrifying, after all.

 I love you boo-boo. @kobebryant #TornRotatorCuff #NeverGiveUp

Una foto publicada por Vanessa Bryant (@vanessabryant) el Ene 22, 2015 at 1:29 PST