Bryant won't play
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
 |
| "It doesn't hurt, it makes me angry," Kobe Bryant says of the media attention.
Associated Press Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors Where: Stan Sheriff Center When: 8 tonight, 6 p.m. tomorrow Tickets: $22 and $30 seats available for both nights. On sale at the Stan Sheriff Center box office, or by telephone at 944-BOWS, or at www.etickethawaii.com Parking: $3 on UH campus. Shuttles to and from the arena will be provided at the Biomedical Building, Art Building and Krauss Circle |
As in basketball court.
Bryant announced yesterday that he will not play with the Los Angeles Lakers in exhibition games tonight and tomorrow.
The rest of the Lakers will face the Golden State Warriors at 8 p.m. tonight and 6 p.m. tomorrow at the Stan Sheriff Center.
"I won't play," the 6-foot-6 superstar guard said after yesterday's practice at the Stan Sheriff Center. "I'll continue to strengthen my leg and see how it goes from there."
Bryant was charged with felony sexual assault in July and has a preliminary hearing for the case scheduled for Thursday in Eagle, Colo. But it is recent surgery on his right knee that will keep him out of uniform tonight.
"He's just leg-weak is what I would say," Los Angeles head coach Phil Jackson said. "His conditioning is not great either."
Bryant's announcement was simply the latest news in what has become a daily drama at Lakers training camp.
Mostly because of Bryant's ongoing case in Colorado, the Lakers camp in Honolulu turned into a media frenzy. More than 70 media outlets have been covering the camp, and Bryant's every move and spoken word has seemingly been analyzed.
"To be honest with you, I (would) much rather play basketball and not be famous," Bryant said.
Bryant expressed his frustration yesterday over the extensive media coverage he has received recently. "It doesn't hurt, it makes me angry," he said.
Bryant was particularly upset about reports that he had contacted a divorce lawyer in March, and that his wife, Vanessa, had to be rushed to the hospital after learning of that meeting with the divorce lawyer. Newsweek printed that account in an extensive cover story on Bryant this week.
"Come on, man. Are you kidding me?" Bryant said yesterday. "That's way off base."
Bryant repeatedly professed his love for his wife and baby daughter, Natalia Diamante, yesterday.
He also displayed new tattoos he got on his right arm over the summer in tribute to his wife and daughter.
Bryant's coverage has overshadowed the Lakers' campaign to regain the NBA championship that eluded them last season for the first time in four years.
"Kobe will be fine," all-star center Shaquille O'Neal said. "But whether we have four Hall of Famers on the court or three, we'll have a great team out there."
O'Neal has been slowed by a bruised left heel during training camp, but he practiced yesterday and is expected to play tonight.
He is expected to be joined in the starting lineup by free-agent signees Karl Malone and Gary Payton — All-Stars who will play their first exhibition games as Lakers.
"We're going to try and learn in these games," Payton said. "You can't come into an offense that you don't know and really rush it. I'm going to take my time."
If practices are any indication, the Lakers will start Payton and Derek Fisher in the backcourt, Malone and Devean George at forwards, and O'Neal at center tonight.
Bryant hopes to play in exhibition games later this month.
"We have a couple of new players, so it would be nice to get out there and try to get a rhythm with them at least a couple times before the season starts," he said. "I'm itching for some competition."
Yesterday was his most active day at a practice since he arrived in camp on Saturday.
"I just found out today that I can pretty much do everything except explode," he said. "I was able to do things today I didn't think I would be able to do."
He said he would probably attend tonight's game, but was uncertain about tomorrow.
"I'm disappointed," he said. "It's always a great crowd when we come out here. There's always a lot of energy. But I'm sure the fellas will put on a great show."
Wounded Warriors: Starting forward Troy Murphy and reserve center Adonal Foyle are listed as doubtful for Golden State tonight.
Murphy has an injured left foot; Foyle has an injured right knee. Both players missed the past two days of practice.
Without Murphy, the Warriors' starting lineup will likely feature Nick Van Exel and Jason Richardson at guards, Mike Dunleavy and Clifford Robinson at forwards, and Erick Dampier at center.
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.
