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Kobe was asked about Dwight's toughness, or lack thereof, and said it was more of an experience issue ...

First, Bryant was asked if he thought Dwight would feel pressured to come back sooner now that Pau Gasol is hurt. "Maybe," Bryant said. "I think with him, he’s probably worried about the damage in his shoulder. I don’t think he’s ever really had to really play through injuries. His entire career he’s been relatively healthy, so, I think it’s a new experience for him." Howard missed just six games in his first seven years in the league. "I think it’s an experience thing," Bryant said. "Like for me, when I was growing up in high school and middle school, unfortunately, but fortunately, I dealt with injuries. Not injuries that are debilitating, but injuries that you have to play through and you have to manage the pain. So, when you go through those things you learn your body and you know what you can push through and know what you can’t push through. But Dwight’s never been hurt … So, when you have an injury that hurts you, but you can play through it, that’s something that you have to balance out and manage. He’s never had to do that."