- Kobe Bryant's wait ends Tuesday. That's when his Los Angeles Lakers will play the Houston Rockets during both team's regular-season opener at Staples Center. That's when Bryant will play for the first time since Dec. 17, 2013, when he suffered a season-ending knee injury. "It's step one of a long journey," Bryant said after his team's practice at their facility here Monday. "I'm excited to get back out there. I can't say I haven't missed the game. I've missed it so much." Read more http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/...os-angeles-lakers-excited-return-start-season