( CNN ) -- Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant could be sidelined for up to nine months after tearing his Achilles tendon , the team said Saturday . The injury happened Friday against the Golden State Warriors . An MRI later confirmed the tear . `` Bryant elected to have surgery to repair the torn left Achilles tendon , '' the team said . `` The successful surgery was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache and Dr. Stephen Lombardo of the Kerlan Jobe Orthopaedic Group . Recovery time is expected to be a minimum of six to nine months . '' A ruptured Achilles could take up to a year to heal , according to Will Carroll , sports injuries lead writer for Bleacher Report . Bryant has previously said that next season could be his last in the NBA . This is the 16th season in the league for the 34-year-old . Asked if the timetable means Bryant will be back next season , trainer Gary Vitti said on Twitter `` that 's the plan . '' Bryant reacted with disappointment on social media after the injury . On his Facebook page he posted a lengthy update : . `` This is such BS ! All the training and sacrifice just flew out the window with one step that I 've done millions of times ! The frustration is unbearable . The anger is rage . Why the hell did this happen ? ! ? Makes no damn sense . Now I 'm supposed to come back from this and be the same player Or better at 35 ? ! ? How in the world am I supposed to do that ? ? `` I have NO CLUE . Do I have the consistent will to overcome this thing ? Maybe I should break out the rocking chair and reminisce on the career that was . Maybe this is how my book ends . Maybe Father Time has defeated me . '' Later , Bryant called the injury the first step in a new challenge . `` One day , the beginning of a new career journey will commence . Today is NOT that day , '' he wrote . The post received more than 136,000 likes . According to an earlier tweet from the Lakers , Bryant could tell what the injury was before seeing a doctor . `` I was just hoping it was n't what I thought it was , '' Bryant said , according to the tweet . The Lakers have two games left in the regular season , both at home . They face the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday and the Houston Rockets on Wednesday . After beating the Warriors 118-116 , the team is one game ahead of the Utah Jazz for the final spot in the NBA 's Western Conference playoffs . Bryant is the NBA 's fourth all-time leading scorer , and he currently ranks among the top three in the NBA in scoring this season , averaging 27.3 points . This season , he has averaged 5.6 rebounds , a team-high 6.0 assists , 1.36 steals and 38.6 minutes in 78 games .
NEW : Bryant has `` successful '' surgery to repair the tendon . NEW : Recovery time `` a minimum of six to nine months '' Bryant has said that next year could be his last in the league . Lakers have two games left in race for playoffs .