As for his feelings about the Los Angeles Lakers, Bryant wasn't interested in clearing that up.

While admitting that he felt bad about the way he voiced his frustrations with the Lakers, Bryant didn't want to add much further yesterday following his first practice with the U.S. national team.

"I understand the interest in the situation, and when the time is right, I'll be more than glad to address those questions," Bryant said. "Right now we have a lot to accomplish here with this team and I don't want to detract from that or be a distraction with that."

Bryant was critical of the Lakers' front office for failing to build a championship contender and asked for a trade during an interview with ESPN Radio on May 30. He initially seemed to back off that in a different interview later that day and hasn't spoken much since, so it's unclear if the two-time league scoring champion still wants to leave the only NBA team he has played for.

Bryant agreed that he seemed to send a mixed message, and said it was his frustrations that caused him to publicly criticize the team and general manager Mitch Kupchak. And after speaking with owner Dr. Jerry Buss, he determined his best move was to keep team matters private from now on.

"It's a shame that the situation had to escalate the way that it had," Bryant said. "But I think going forward all I can do, and all we can do, is try to handle the situation the best way that we can."

Bryant seemed pleased with the Lakers' recent moves, bringing back his friend and former teammate Derek Fisher and re-signing Luke Walton and Chris Mihm. But none of those seem the type Bryant would be looking for to make Los Angeles a threat in the powerful Western Conference.

"It's not really about me, it's just about what Mitch and them feel they need to do to improve the ballclub," he said.

Bryant is the biggest upgrade for the U.S. team that finished third in the world championships last year. He joins Chauncey Billups and Jason Kidd in a new-look backcourt that figures to be a strength of the team.

Bryant was chosen for the U.S. team that played in the 2003 Olympic qualifier in Puerto Rico, but had to pull out before training began because of knee and shoulder surgeries. He remained a part of that team and was set to join the Americans in the 2004 Olympics, before he was forced to drop out while facing a sexual assault trial in Colorado.

He was given a third chance last year when USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo made him one of the first selections for the new national team program. But Bryant again had to withdraw just before the start of training camp, again because of knee surgery.

Bryant acknowledged wondering if he had missed his chance to play for his country.