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          Los Angeles Lakers

          McHale on Kobe: 'It happens to everybody'

          • Baxter Holmes, ESPN Senior WriterJan 26, 2015, 02:46 AM ET
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              Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) is a senior writer for ESPN Digital and Print, focusing on the NBA. He has covered the Lakers, the Celtics and previously worked for The Boston Globe and Los Angeles Times.
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          LOS ANGELES -- Houston Rockets coach Kevin McHale says he has loads of respect for Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant.

          But McHale didn't seem so sure the 36-year-old Bryant would be able to rebound from another potential season-ending injury, this time a torn rotator cuff in Bryant's right shoulder suffered last week in a loss at New Orleans.

          "Eventually, this catches up to you, man," McHale said Sunday before the Rockets beat the Lakers 99-87 at Staples Center. "Kobe's a great player, but I've seen other great players. When your time's up, your time's up, man. It's too bad, but it happens to everybody.

          "I wish him all the best. I've always admired him. I think he's a hell of a competitor, but everything comes to an end. In my case, my body just said, 'You weren't playing anymore,' and I said, 'OK.' "

          Bryant was expected to decide as early as Monday whether to have shoulder surgery. If it causes him to miss the rest of the season, it will mark his third straight season ended early by injuries. Achilles and knee injuries ended his previous two seasons prematurely.