Sole on Ice for Bryant, Lakers

ORLANDO, Fla. — Clinically it's called plantar fasciitis, but it's otherwise commonly known as a really sore foot.

The Lakers know it by yet another description: It's what's bothering Kobe Bryant.

The Laker star has been diagnosed with the condition, which can be as ugly as it sounds and can affect careers as quickly as it appears.

Forward Wally Szczerbiak of the Minnesota Timberwolves sat out 53 games last season because of it. Peja Stojakovic and Rasheed Wallace have battled it in recent seasons. Doug Christie and Rashard Lewis, a 34-year-old veteran and a 25-year-old up-and-comer, have been affected by it this season.

Bryant's condition was caught early and diagnosed within days of the first sign of soreness on the underside of his left foot. He is not expected to miss any games in the near future, but he had better get used to postgame treatment sessions that border on 45 minutes.

"Hopefully, the treatment will work and it will go away," Laker spokesman John Black said. "Only time will tell."

With four frontcourt players unable to play and Bryant resting his foot, the Lakers canceled practice Thursday. They play the Magic here tonight and at Houston on Saturday.

There is no definitive remedy for plantar fasciitis, a painful swelling of the strip of skin that stretches from the heel to the ball of the foot. It usually starts with discomfort in the heel and can be caused by numerous factors, including poorly fitted shoes or walking barefoot too often. Doctors most frequently recommend daily icing, orthotic inserts, stretching techniques or cortisone injections.

Laker Coach Rudy Tomjanovich is familiar with plantar fasciitis.

"It's not a good thing, I'll tell you that," he said. "I had it as a coach. I had to sleep with a boot on.

"I got competitive one day after practice. Some guys needed some work, we didn't have enough players, I went out there. It wasn't a wise decision. I tried to make a move I couldn't do when I was playing.

"It took a long time [to recover] ... months and months."

Bryant hasn't been limping or showing noticeable signs of discomfort, but he was largely ineffective Thursday in the Lakers' 110-87 loss to Memphis. He elevated nicely in the first quarter to make a three-pointer over Shane Battier, but he finished with a season-low 20 points on four-for-19 shooting.