PHOTO: Kobe Bryant joins Lakers on bench for 1st time since surgery

There was a familiar face on the Los Angeles Lakers bench as they hosted the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night.

For the first time since undergoing season-ending rotator cuff surgery on Jan. 28, Kobe Bryant was on the sidelines with his teammates. Bryant hasn't traveled with the team over the 18 games he's missed, instead spending time rehabilitating and doing a major media tour to promote his documentary, "Kobe Bryant's Muse."

Whether the documentary having aired had slowed calls for Bryant to make appearances, the Lakers asked for him to rejoin the charges or Bryant was just bored at home, he was at Staples Center on Sunday.

And of course he was wearing all black, likely mourning the loss of another Lakers season.

As for whether he liked what he saw, well, even an early lead didn't have Bryant looking too impressed.

The Lakers have gone 4-14 since Bryant's injury and are 6-20 without him on the year. With their first-round pick heading to the Philadelphia 76ers if it doesn't land within the top-five, Bryant's absence is probably best for the long-term interests of the franchise, tough as it may be to watch.