The Los Angeles Lakers took another blow this season as superstar Kobe Bryant is in danger of missing the remainder of the 2014-15 NBA season.

The Lakers announced on Thursday that Bryant was diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder, which he sustained during their 96-80 loss to the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday.

According to Baxter Holmes and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, Bryant has been complaining about his ailing right shoulder since the offseason and aggravated it when he scored on a two-handed dunk in the 4:14 mark of the third period of their loss to the Pelicans. Afterwards, Bryant immediately grabbed his shoulders and was substituted out of the game. The 36-year-old superstar managed to return in the fourth period but was favoring his right shoulder. He grabbed rebounds and dribbled using his left hand, but Lakers coach Byron Scott decided to replace him after Bryant took a jumper using his left hand.

"Obviously after I saw that everything he did was with the left hand, I knew then, let's get him out of there," Scott said of Bryant, who finished with 14 points and seven rebounds in what could be his final game of the season.

The Lakers have yet to release a timetable for Bryant's recovery, but according to the Los Angeles Times, the 19-year-veteran could miss the rest of the season if team doctors determine a full tear, which would require a surgery. Bryant could return in weeks if it is only a partial tear.

Sources told ESPN, however, that Lakers executive fear Bryant, who is averaging 22.3 points to go along with 5.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game this season, has suffered a season-ending injury.

Basketball fans also expressed fear the injury could convince Bryant to call it quits for good, but former teammate Pau Gasol believes the third all-time leading scorer in NBA history will not retire.

"Injuries are a tough break, but he'll continue to go, continue to fight through it," Gasol said via Bleacher Report. "He loves the game. He's such a huge competitor, and he's very proud to represent the Lakers. It's the only team he has played for, and he takes pride in that."

The Lakers are currently in 14th place in the Western Conference standings with their 12-31 record -- just four games ahead of the 7-34 Minnesota Timberwolves.

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