Kobe Bryant missed his ninth game of his 20th and final season Tuesday, sitting out with a sore right shoulder as his Los Angeles Lakers fell 92-90 to the Dallas Mavericks at Staples Center.
Bryant's right shoulder has bothered him virtually all season and figures to be an issue the rest of the way.
It's the same shoulder Bryant had surgery on last season to repair a torn rotator cuff, ending his 2014-15 campaign after 35 games.
"Today, I got up in the morning.
I went through my routine, and [the] shoulder is like, I couldn't really move the thing," Bryant said before Tuesday's game.
"Usually, the night before, it's kind of a telltale sign with how much it hurts when I sleep."
In addition to his shoulder, Bryant has also missed games this season because of a strained right Achilles and back issues.
He has also sat out just to rest.