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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Saturday, October 4, 2003

Bryant expected to join camp

 •  Local spotlight back on Kobe Bryant
 •  New Laker Payton brings Hall of Fame numbers

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

KOBE BRYANT

The Kobe Bryant watch in Hawai'i is back on.

Officials for the Los Angeles Lakers said that Bryant was expected to arrive in Honolulu last night and attend training camp with his teammates today at the University of Hawai'i.

Lakers spokesman John Black said that Bryant's agent, Rob Pelinka, informed the team yesterday afternoon of Bryant's flight plans.

Bryant is also expected to address the media for the first time since July, although he is not expected to talk about his ongoing sexual assault case.

Bryant was charged in July with felony sexual assault of a female hotel clerk in Colorado. The preliminary hearing for the case is scheduled for Thursday in Eagle, Colo. His status for exhibition games on Tuesday and Wednesday has not yet been determined.

More than 70 media representatives are in Hawai'i this week following the Lakers, primarily because of Bryant's ongoing case.

Bryant was originally scheduled to arrive in Honolulu on Thursday with other Lakers veterans. However, he missed the team's private flight because he was "under the weather," according to team officials.

After yesterday's morning practice, Los Angeles head coach Phil Jackson was still uncertain of Bryant's plans.

"I know there are hopes that he'll make a plane today and be here tomorrow, but we have no guarantees," Jackson said.

Jackson said he addressed Bryant's situation with the rest of the team during a meeting Thursday night, including instructions on how to deal with the media blitz.

"We talked about Kobe not being here and what we can do as a team to be supportive," Jackson said.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.