COLORADO SPRINGS, July 15 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Lakers all-star guard Kobe Bryant underwent arthroscopy to remove scar tissue in his right knee, USA Basketball announced Saturday.
The minor surgery also treated damaged cartilage in the knee and will put Bryant on the sidelines for eight to 12 weeks. The Lakers star is expected to attend part of USA Team training camp opening in Las Vegas on July 19 and join the team's Asian tour before the world basketball championships in Japan Aug. 19-Sept. 3.
Bryant is expected to be recovered well before the upcoming NBA season. He averaged 35.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.84 steals in 80 games with the Lakers last season.
"We trust that Kobe will have a total and speedy recovery, and we were pleased that he expressed a willingness to remain as involved with our team as possible through this process," said USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo.
