Bryant likely to play for West in All-Star Game

Feb 17, 2008 - 11:49 PM West at East 8:00 pm EST

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- Kobe Bryant's pinkie is hurting. But the Los Angeles Lakers guard will play for the Western Conference when it faces the East in Sunday's All-Star game in New Orleans.

Bryant, who is averaging 28.0 points per game - second in the league behind fellow All-Star LeBron James (30.3) - has a partially torn ligament in his right pinkie that doctors have said requires surgery.

However, the two-time scoring champion has declined, opting to rest the injury instead. But Sunday will not be a day for total rest.

League rules dictate that a player who is healthy enough to play the final game before the break, and the first one after it, will not be excused due to injury.

Bryant was none too pleased about the rule.

"Yeah, it's a pretty crappy rule, to be honest with you," said Bryant, who scored 31 points with six rebounds and six assists to earn MVP honors of last year's game. "But what can you do?

"I understand if you play the last game prior to the All-Star break, if you don't, you're suspended for the next game. So we'll just do what we can here and follow the rules and get ready for Atlanta."

Another sub-plot of Sunday's game is the status of East All-Star point guard Jason Kidd. Kidd is in limbo right now since the proposed trade from New Jersey to Dallas fell through when the Mavericks' Devean George invoked his no-trade clause.

"I didn't talk about it or not," said Kidd, a nine-time All-Star. "I knew there was a snag in the deal. And like I said then, that everything will work itself out one way or the other. Because there are so many players involved, both sides have to make decisions on a lot of things. So that's where we're at.

"I haven't talked to anybody. I spent last night with my family and just trying to enjoy the All-Star festivities today. That's it. You know, I'm a Net until I'm told otherwise, that I'm a Mav or something else."

While Bryant is hurt and may be forced to play, the same cannot be said for Kevin Garnett, the leading vote-getter who will not suit up. Garnett will not play due to an abdominal strain that has forced him to miss the last nine games. He will be replaced by Toronto Raptors' forward Chris Bosh.

New Orleans will have a hometown favorite to cheer for as point guard Chris Paul makes his first All-Star appearance along with fellow first-timer and Portland guard Brandon Roy.

Newly crowned dunk champion Dwight Howard will make his second All-Star appearance and first start at center for the East.