After a one-year hiatus, the basketball drama also known as the Los Angeles Lakers' training camp has returned to Hawai'i.

The Lakers held their first practice of the 10-day camp yesterday at the Stan Sheriff Center. The camp will conclude with exhibition games against the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 11 and 12.

"I think it was a good first practice," guard Kobe Bryant said. "We learned a lot fundamentally about what we want to do defensively. It was a very productive day."

But when it comes to the Lakers, the media focus is not always on the court.

At this year's camp, there will be a close watch on Bryant and head coach Phil Jackson.

Following his retirement from the Lakers after the 2003-04 season, Jackson released a book titled, "The Last Season."

In it, he described Bryant as "uncoachable."

But both Bryant and Jackson indicated yesterday that they will be able to work together this season to improve on last season's 34-48 record. It was the first time since 1994 that the Lakers did not make the playoffs.

"Kobe is going to do what he does best and that's try to win ball games, and try to be a competitive player," Jackson said. "That's something I can count on."

Bryant said: "My job is to come out and play hard and play smart and try to lead by example by staying within the system and playing disciplined basketball. And hopefully everybody will kind of follow suit."

Jackson has won nine NBA championships as a head coach — six with the Chicago Bulls and three with the Lakers.

When asked why he returned to a Lakers team that is not as talented as the one he left two years ago, Jackson responded: "I guess it's really a desire to see this team resurface again as a real potent team."

The make-up of the team has changed dramatically in two years. When the Lakers last trained in Hawai'i in 2003, All-Stars Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Karl Malone and Gary Payton were on the roster.

Now, Bryant is the only All-Star on the roster. That in itself has become somewhat of a controversial subject.

It is another reason why Jackson said he has returned.

"A lot of people had a bad rap last year," Jackson said. "We traded Shaq. It was a situation that became a financial obligation for the franchise as far as the owner was concerned. Kobe had to take some heat for that, as if he was the one who manufactured the trade ... like there was a scapegoat in the situation, when indeed there wasn't.

"So this is an opportunity for me to come back and help this club out."

Bryant said Jackson's comments after yesterday's practice were somewhat comforting.

"It means a lot because there's been a lot said about our relationship from outside parties as well as ourselves," said Bryant, who was on three of the Lakers' championship teams with Jackson. "But ultimately, we've been through so many battles and we've been successful in a majority of them, so there's an inner respect there."

Two years ago, Bryant was the focus of a media frenzy because he was facing sexual assault charges. The case was dropped a year later.

At the 2003 camp, approximately 70 media outlets followed the Lakers and Bryant's case. Yesterday, there were about a dozen outlets at practice.

"Everybody here is a big boy," forward Lamar Odom said. "We know what it takes to win. They (Bryant and Jackson) know what it takes to win, so I'm pretty sure they'll handle it."

NOTES

The Lakers have 20 players in camp this week: Corie Blount, Tony Bobbitt, Kwame Brown, Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, Will Conroy, Brian Cook, Vlade Divac, Devean George, Devin Green, Jumaine Jones, Aaron McKie, Stanislav Medvedenko, Chris Mihm, Lamar Odom, William "Smush" Parker, Laron Profit, Sasha Vujacic, Von Wafer and Luke Walton.

Among the assistant coaches helping the Lakers this week are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Scottie Pippen, Kurt Rambis and Brian Shaw.

The Golden State Warriors are holding their training camp at the Brigham Young-Hawai'i campus. The practices for both the Lakers are Warriors are closed to the public.

Ronny Turiaf attended the Lakers practice yesterday, although he did not participate in drills. Turiaf, the Lakers second-round draft pick this year, underwent surgery July 26 to repair an enlarged aortic root near his heart. Lakers spokesman John Black said Turiaf flew in on his own from Spokane, Wash., on Monday and would remain with the team for a few days.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.