Gary Vitti

Gary Vitti has seen a lot in his 29 years as the Lakers' athletic trainer. This is his most trying season yet. He has felt the weight of the team's struggles, the Lakers standing at 32-31 and tied with Utah for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference despite meteoric expectations. He also experienced the strain in the trainer's room, Pau Gasol and Steve Nash missing a total of 51 games because of injuries, not to mention major hip surgery for Jordan Hill and Steve Blake's 37-game absence because of abdominal and groin issues.

Kobe Bryant will be sidelined six to nine months because of a torn left Achilles' tendon, Lakers trainer Gary Vitti said Saturday afternoon. Bryant could possibly be back in time for the start of next season, Vitti said. The NBA will not release the 2013-14 schedule until August but teams typically begin playing around Oct. 31. Bryant was about to undergo surgery at an undisclosed location when Vitti met with reporters a little after noon Saturday at the team's training facility.

Laker trainer Gary Vitti was hospitalized at Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood because of a relapse with a viral infection that sidelined him for two weeks in January.

TV cameramen yelled and cursed at each other as dozens of reporters scrambled to get an interview with Gary Vitti. It's never a good sign if the longtime Lakers trainer is the target of a media crush, but somebody had to provide medical details Saturday of the hard news: Kobe Bryant is sidelined six to nine months because of a torn left Achilles' tendon. NBA teams begin playing around Oct. 31, meaning Bryant theoretically could be back in time for the start of next season. "I think that's a realistic goal for him," Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said.

Kobe Bryant will be sidelined six to nine months because of a torn left Achilles' tendon, Lakers trainer Gary Vitti said Saturday afternoon. Bryant could possibly be back in time for the start of next season, Vitti said. The NBA will not release the 2013-14 schedule until August but teams typically begin playing around Oct. 31. Bryant was about to undergo surgery at an undisclosed location when Vitti met with reporters a little after noon Saturday at the team's training facility.

TV cameramen yelled and cursed at each other as dozens of reporters scrambled to get an interview with Gary Vitti. It's never a good sign if the longtime Lakers trainer is the target of a media crush, but somebody had to provide medical details Saturday of the hard news: Kobe Bryant is sidelined six to nine months because of a torn left Achilles' tendon. NBA teams begin playing around Oct. 31, meaning Bryant theoretically could be back in time for the start of next season. "I think that's a realistic goal for him," Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said.

As athletic trainer for the Lakers, Gary Vitti works hard at keeping the players in top physical form to compete in the grueling sport of pro basketball. It's no stretch to say that Vitti's expertise has helped the team, whose players include Sean Rooks, right, get a leg up on the competition. The trainer's other pregame chores include taping the players, like Nick Van Exel. Vitti, 43, who has been with the Lakers for 14 years, frequently lectures on fitness and sports medicine.

Shaquille O'Neal probably will not play tonight against the Cleveland Cavaliers because the sore arch on his right foot, which sidelined him for Sunday's game at New York, remained tender Monday. O'Neal, who ranks among the NBA's top five in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots, received treatment Monday and will continue therapy for plantar fasciitis. He remained unable to rise on his toes, and therefore did not participate in a light practice at Gund Arena.

Just as Andrew Bynum stepped foot toward the Staples Center exit tunnel, Lakers Coach Mike Brown cauight a glimpse of him. It left him convinced the left ankle injury Bynum suffered during the Lakers' 120-112 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday won't become what he calls a "long-term" absence. "I think it's OK," Brown said. "He was able to walk out fine. " The Lakers won't officially know the severity of Bynum's injury until Monday when the team plans to re-evauluate him after X-rays taken Sunday night turned out negative.

MILWAUKEE -- Just what the Lakers needed, more injuries to their aging backcourt. Kobe Bryant was seen limping badly in the Lakers' locker room after yet another loss, bothered by a bone spur in his left foot. He will be evaluated by doctors in Sacramento when the Lakers arrive there Friday, a day before they play the Kings to complete a four-game trip. Bryant was icing the foot on the bench in the fourth quarter of the Lakers' 113-103 loss Thursday to the Milwaukee Bucks. He re-entered the game with  6 minutes 47 seconds to play and finished with 30 points on six-for-17 shooting.

MILWAUKEE - The older, slower, stumbling Lakers were playing on the second night of a back-to-back, so the outcome was practically predetermined. What were not expected were dual injuries to their aging backcourt, Steve Nash unable to finish the game and Kobe Bryant limping through the locker room after a 113-103 loss Thursday to the Milwaukee Bucks. Bryant was bothered by a bone spur in his left foot, Nash sidelined by what he called a hip spasm. BOX SCORE: Bucks 113, Lakers 103 Bryant will be evaluated by doctors in Sacramento when the Lakers arrive there Friday, a day before they play the Kings to complete a four-game trip.

INDIANAPOLIS - Kobe Bryant is expected to play Friday against the Indiana Pacers. "He's better. A lot better," Lakers Coach Mike D'Antoni said. Bryant sustained a severely sprained left ankle Wednesday against Atlanta and was declared out indefinitely by the Lakers. He did some shooting almost three hours before tip-off, testing out the ankle. D'Antoni said the coaching staff and athletic trainer Gary Vitti would watch Bryant closely when the game starts. "We'll all sit together and we'll have a conversation," D'Antoni said.

Gary Vitti has seen a lot in his 29 years as the Lakers' athletic trainer. This is his most trying season yet. He has felt the weight of the team's struggles, the Lakers standing at 32-31 and tied with Utah for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference despite meteoric expectations. He also experienced the strain in the trainer's room, Pau Gasol and Steve Nash missing a total of 51 games because of injuries, not to mention major hip surgery for Jordan Hill and Steve Blake's 37-game absence because of abdominal and groin issues.

Teams that refuse to divulge injury information can be more forthcoming than Lakers Coach Mike Brown was Friday about Kobe Bryant's right foot. Bryant sat out the Lakers' morning and evening practice sessions, a team spokesman said, because his foot was bothering him. He was listed as day to day. Asked about Bryant's injury, Brown said, "It's one of his feet. " Pressed for more details, the coach deferred to Gary Vitti , saying the longtime trainer was staying on top of the situation.

All eyes centered on Kobe Bryant. For once, it had nothing to do with his clutch shooting. It had everything to do with dunking over Chris Douglas-Roberts during Tuesday's practice. It appears Bryant looks just fine, even if Father time (34 years) and basketball mileage (17th season) continues to catch up. Bryant apparently remains in such great condition that he revealed after Tuesday's practice that he declined to have Regenokine surgery on his right knee for the second consecutive offseason.

Andrew Bynum's sprained left ankle was not considered serious enough to follow up with an MRI exam, and the Lakers are officially listing their center as day-to-day before Tuesday's game against New Jersey. Bynum was injured Sunday against Golden State after an awkward landing while trying to block the shot of Warriors power forward David Lee. X-rays were negative at the time. Bynum went to the team's training facility Monday and underwent a series of treatments with long-time trainer Gary Vitti, including electro-stimulation, ice and manual therapy, according to Lakers spokesman John Black.

MILWAUKEE -- Just what the Lakers needed, more injuries to their aging backcourt. Kobe Bryant was seen limping badly in the Lakers' locker room after yet another loss, bothered by a bone spur in his left foot. He will be evaluated by doctors in Sacramento when the Lakers arrive there Friday, a day before they play the Kings to complete a four-game trip. Bryant was icing the foot on the bench in the fourth quarter of the Lakers' 113-103 loss Thursday to the Milwaukee Bucks. He re-entered the game with  6 minutes 47 seconds to play and finished with 30 points on six-for-17 shooting.

Mike Bresnahan covers the Lakers for The Times and ties up loose ends before all their playoff games. The Lakers are tied with the Denver Nuggets, 3-3, heading into Saturday night's game. Yeah, Kobe Bryant is 4-1 in Game 7s in his career. Beat Portland in 2000, Sacramento in 2002, Houston in 2009 and Boston in 2010. Whatever. More impressive is the record of longtime Lakers trainer Gary Vitti. He's 7-1 in Game 7s. Start with Kobe's 4-1 mark and tack on Game 7 victories against Utah, Dallas and Detroit - all in 1988.

The Lakers showed up to their El Segundo training facility, took their annual team photo and left. There were plenty of reasons to smile. They're 4-1 without Kobe Bryant , playing inspired basketball at the right time and getting closer to resting key players for a game or two before the real ones begin. "I wouldn't hesitate to do that," Lakers Coach Mike Brown said. He definitely rested them Monday, letting them go home without practicing, a day after Andrew Bynum, Ramon Sessions and Pau Gasol each played 44 minutes in the Lakers' 112-108 overtime victory against Dallas.