Kobe Bryant News

Bryant and Gasol: still partners, not rivals
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March 16
Orange County Register
 columnist Kevin Ding
"More and more, the world is needing to see Pau Gasol's public displays of affection for a certain someone whose name rhymes with "Flowbee Giant." Late Monday night, though, Gasol walked out of the locker room after the Lakers had beaten Golden State, came back toward the Oracle Arena court and waited for his girlfriend to make her way down from the stands."
Kobe Bryant's the king, say Golden State Warriors
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March 15
Oakland Tribune
 
"Warriors guard Raja Bell is perhaps most known for his rivalry with Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant. During his days with the Phoenix Suns, Bell was Bryant's personal defender in multiple playoff series. The heated matchup included verbal jabs, elbows and shoves, a couple of physical altercations and zero love lost. But ask Bell who's the best player in the game, and he'll answer without hesitation. He won't say LeBron James or Dwyane Wade or Carmelo Anthony. "Kobe," Bell said. "He's a winner, man. Not that the LeBrons and D-Wades and 'Melos aren't. But he just seems to have a sixth sense about closing and timeliness with his game that I think he's developed over time. I think they ..."
Kobe Bryant's hard to embrace, but he's clearly the best clutch player in the game
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March 14
Los Angeles Times
 
"Kobe or not Kobe, the mystery, wrapped in an enigma, wearing No. 24, continues.... There was never an icon, or whatever Kobe Bryant is, like Kobe Bryant, who's held at arm's length even by a segment of Lakerdom. When he broke Jerry West's scoring record a wave of protest arose - among Lakers fans - offended by the suggestion that it made him the greatest Laker. Kobe takes your breath away, but so did West and Magic Johnson, who also tugged at your heartstrings. If Kobe realizes you have heartstrings, he doesn't know how to tug at them, although he's gone through enough PR people trying. What setting a Lakers scoring record lacked in drama, Bryant is making up for with six game-winning ..."
Lakers' Bryant remains in ornery mood
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March 12
L.A. Daily News
 
"Phoenix Suns coach Alvin Gentry made what sure sounded like a concession speech after the Lakers thumped his team 108-88 on Dec. 6 at Staples Center by saying, "They're by far the best team (in the league). They're just too (freaking) good." That was then, this is now. The Lakers' lead over the Suns in the Pacific Division is a healthy seven games going into tonight's game in Phoenix. But whatever invincible aura the Lakers presented to Gentry and the Suns three months ago is long gone. Kobe Bryant used the word "garbage" to describe the Lakers' most recent victory, a 109-107 nail-biter over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday. Bryant made a jump shot with 1.9 seconds remaining to enable the ..."
Nobody does it better than Kobe Bryant
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March 11
Los Angeles Times
 
"Even though Kobe Bryant called the game, uh, "garbage," his last-second winner Tuesday gave him six this season, the most in an NBA season since Elias Sports Bureau began tracking the stat in 2000-01. Denver forward Carmelo Anthony had five in 2005-06, according to Elias, which defines the category as a shot that proved to be a game-winner in the last 10 seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime. With the Lakers taking a day off Wednesday, what else was there to do but recap Bryant's run? It began with an off-balance, 27-foot three-point bank shot as time expired to give the Lakers a 108-107 victory over Miami on Dec. 4. Then Bryant backed down Charlie Bell in the high post and drilled a ..."
Vintage Kobe
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March 10
Toronto Sun
 
"Right with them, step for step, for the bulk of the evening, the Raptors had no answer when Kobe Bryant stepped on the gas. With the Raptors' lead at five and about seven minutes remaining, Bryant took the game over. He scored 14 of the final 20 Lakers points, going through first Antoine Wright, then Sonny Weems and finally Jarrett Jack to do so as the Lakers beat the Raptors 109-107. Bryant wound up with 32 points on the night on 11-of-20 shooting and if any of his teammates were complaining about him being a volume shooter after this one, they were doing it awfully quietly. Bryant had been hearing it from a few teammates - Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom specifically - about being a little ..."
Lakers' Bryant hits winning shot as L.A. snaps three-game skid
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March 10
L.A. Daily News
 
"Kobe Bryant drove a stake through the heart of the Lakers' three-game losing streak Tuesday night. Neither he nor his teammates could put an end to their meandering ways, however. They won, but only just barely. "That urgency of playing well has not struck us yet," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "Some of it is finding that spark. It's hard to keep that spark going." First things first, though. Bryant supplied more late-game magic, swishing a jump shot from along the right baseline with 1.9 seconds remaining to lift the Lakers to a 109-107 victory over the Toronto Raptors in front of a sellout crowd of 18,997 at Staples Center. It was his sixth winning basket in the final seconds this ..."
Another great episode of '24', Kobe Bryant to the rescue again
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March 10
Los Angeles Times
 
"Strange guys, these Lakers. It looked like they were still on the road, maybe trapped in Charlotte, their Eastern Conference house of horrors, but a quick check of the schedule and a quiet crowd verified they were indeed back at Staples Center. Tuesday should have been a day for an easy victory, a chance to end a three-game skid against the barely .500 Toronto Raptors, but it turned into yet another struggle for the defending NBA champions. The Lakers prevailed, 109-107, giving their fans something to cheer about, but it wasn't an impressive night for a team that looked tired and acted aloof ... yet again. It was getting close enough to a loss that reporters scrambled to look up the last ..."
Kobe under a microscope
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March 9
Toronto Sun
 
"The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves in an unfamiliar position at a moment in time that is as unique as Ron Artest's choice in hair style. Veiled references about Kobe Bryant's trigger-happy habits have surfaced, a three-game losing streak and an onslaught known as the juggernaut Dallas Mavericks have turned the reigning champions into a mess, at least by L.A. standards. Most teams would welcome the added attention, distractions and saga, which go with the territory of being the NBA's marquee franchise. The team that takes to the court Tuesday night against the visiting Raptors is one that has been scrutinized more times than Bryant heaved shots during the Lakers' three-game losing ..."
Lakers star Bryant: The mood is `edgy'
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March 9
L.A. Daily News
 
"With three-game losing streaks such a rare occurrence for the Lakers, it was understandable that players and coaches were searching for answers after practice Monday. Whether it's as simple as just making more shots, as Kobe Bryant suggested, or better ball movement, as Pau Gasol recommended, it's obvious the Lakers need to fix the problems that plagued them in a lost road trip that saw them lose in Miami, Charlotte and Orlando over the weekend. Whatever the reason, the Lakers are not a happy bunch at the moment. "We're upset," Bryant said. "We're edgy." That's what the longest losing streak in more than two calendar years will do to a team. "We don't like losing." Gasol said. "This team, ..."
Lakers are a team on edge, with Kobe Bryant setting the tone
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March 9
Los Angeles Times
 
"The Lakers were already sporting a different look Monday, with Sasha Vujacic back on the court and Ron Artest unveiling his second hairdo in two days. Even cosmetic changes were welcome for a team returning home following its first three-game losing streak in more than two years. Kobe Bryant described the Lakers as "upset" and "a little edgy," supporting his descriptors with a series of curt answers to reporters' questions. Asked if he was feeling better a day after stomach issues forced him to miss the team bus to Amway Arena in Orlando, Bryant said, "I'm getting a stomach virus now with all these questions." The Lakers all seemed a bit queasy after losing three consecutive games for ..."
Bryant gives Lakers an 'A' for effort
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March 8
L.A. Daily News
 
"So, exactly where are the Lakers after getting swept on a three-game trip for the first time since April 2005? Are they on their way back from wherever they went during their lifeless losses to Miami and Charlotte to start the trip? Or are they still in need of dramatic improvement? Opinions were mixed Sunday after the Lakers lost to the Orlando Magic, 96-94. The defeat also gave them their first three-game losing streak since they acquired Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies on Feb. 1, 2008. "It's not like (the losing streak) is something to worry about," Ron Artest said. "It's just that when we came into the season, we all had one goal (winning a second consecutive title). "There are ..."
Kobe holds nothing back after Lakers' latest defeat
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March 6
Charlotte Observer
 columnist Scott Fowler
"Kobe Bryant was angry. He walked into the postgame locker room Friday night after a 98-83 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats with a venomous scowl on his face. He used the word "flat" four times to describe the Lakers' performance, then promised that he was going to be talking to his teammates very soon about why they needed to elevate their energy level. Would this be a nice talk? "What do you think?" Bryant growled. The Bobcats inexplicably have had the Lakers' number for years, no matter who was Charlotte's coach or who was playing. Charlotte is always a worse team than the Lakers overall yet has beaten L.A. seven of the past nine times the teams have played, handing the ultra-competitive ..."
Lakers try not to dial it down; Bryant looks to dial it up
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March 2
Los Angeles Times
 
"The Lakers are coming off a high, an intense win against Western Conference rival Denver. Their elation stems partly from Ron Artest's tenacious defense Sunday against Nuggets All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony, plus Lamar Odom's stellar fourth quarter in which he scored nine of his game-high 20 points and collected eight of his 12 rebounds. Now the Lakers have to zero in on a far lesser opponent. They play the struggling Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night at Staples Center. The Pacers are 20-39 and have lost seven of their last 10 games. "I know we're going to go out there and play hard. I know that for a fact," Artest said after practice Monday. "We've been playing hard lately. We haven't ..."
In battle of heavyweights, Lakers' Artest wins this round against Denver star Anthony
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March 1
L.A. Daily News
 
"In one corner, standing 6-foot-8 and weighing 230 pounds, dressed in the blue and white colors of the Denver Nuggets, small forward Carmelo Anthony. In the other corner, standing 6-foot-7 and weighing 255 pounds, dressed in the gold and purple colors of the Lakers, small forward Ron Artest. When the bell rang Sunday afternoon (figuratively, of course, since this was basketball, not boxing), Anthony and Artest went toe-to-toe or chest-to-chest or nose-to-nose, depending on the situation in the low post or on the perimeter. Anthony scored 21 points; Artest had 17. Anthony fouled out late in the game; Artest stayed on the floor. Anthony and the Nuggets lost; Artest and the Lakers won for the ..."
Kobe Bryant takes back seat to teammates in Lakers' win
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February 28
Los Angeles Times
 
"For most of the game Friday night, Kobe Bryant seemed content to let his teammates be the focal points of the offense. That wasn't such a bad idea considering that Pau Gasol had 23 points and 11 rebounds, Andrew Bynum had 20 points and 13 rebounds, and Lamar Odom had 11 points and nine rebounds. Still, it was not the kind of game many are used to seeing from Bryant during the Lakers' 99-90 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers at Staples Center. "I thought Kobe played a rather lackluster game," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. "[But] he made some plays down the stretch that are typical of his game." Even in the fourth quarter, when the Lakers were trying to separate from the 76ers, Bryant ..."
Bryant not the hero this night
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February 25
Orange County Register
 
"This looked a lot different than the night before. The Lakers did rally again, but Kobe Bryant shot the 3-pointer and missed ... and Pau Gasol seemed right there to have his back by controlling the offensive rebound ... except Gasol let the ball slip away from him and out of bounds. There went the Lakers' best chance down the stretch of a 101-96 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night. Bryant missed that tying shot with 25.9 seconds left after he had made the tying one - and the go-ahead one - Tuesday night to win in Memphis, with Gasol helping out just enough. This result left both Bryant and Gasol praising the Mavericks' will to win on this occasion, and will to show they can ..."
Kobe missed, but give Mavs credit for sending a message
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February 25
Dallas Morning News
 
"In this era of the NBA, there is no more helpless and intimidating feeling than seeing Kobe Bryant rising up for a 3-pointer in the final minute. It's the same as it used to be with Larry Bird or Michael Jordan. This time, Kobe missed. Bryant's 3-pointer with 25 seconds left, which could have tied the game, careened off the rim, and the Mavericks held on for a tough win over the Lakers. Give them credit. As coach Rick Carlisle said, if they had stood around and tried to run the clock out, they would have lost. They kept attacking late in the fourth quarter and because of it, they forced the Lakers to try to pull out a minor miracle. And they've been known to do it."
Kobe enjoys fresh start and fantastic finish
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February 24
Orange County Register
 
"Kobe Bryant produced another ending to remember. Just don't forget how Bryant looked at the beginning. That was magical in a more unique way. The word "pure" describes Bryant's stroke on that winning shot Tuesday night, but it better speaks to the look in his eyes as he took the basketball court for the first time after 18 days away. On first glance the eyes were might've looked dead to the casual observer because they were so steady. Bryant walked without emotion from the bench to the scorer's table to get rosin for his hands. Teammate Josh Powell whispered that last motivation in Bryant's right ear right before tip-off - which only happens every single game - yet Bryant listened as ..."
Bryant's late 3-pointer lift Lakers over Grizzlies
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February 24
Orange County Register
 
"The brotherhood between Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, already champions together, is still evolving. The bond strengthened further Tuesday night with Bryant's winning 3-point shot in the Lakers' 99-98 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, Gasol's longtime team that he so badly wants to beat. It was Bryant's first game back after the Lakers went 4-1 while he rested a strained peroneal tendon in his lower left leg. And unlike three weeks ago after the Lakers lost at the buzzer in Memphis on the night Bryant became the Lakers' all-time scoring leader, Bryant and Gasol held each other in a long, long embrace before leaving the court. Bryant put the Lakers ahead with a 3-pointer with 4.3 seconds to ..."
Lakers' Bryant returns, hits winner over Memphis
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February 24
L.A. Daily News
 
"There were 8.8 seconds remaining when Ron Artest inbounded the ball to Pau Gasol, who passed to Lamar Odom, who passed to Kobe Bryant, who swished a 3-pointer from 26 feet along the right wing. Calmly, coolly, collectively, the Lakers seized a 99-98 victory from the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday. They celebrated Bryant's return from a five-game absence because of an ankle injury by putting the ball into his capable hands with the game on the line. If the strained peroneal tendon in his left ankle bothered him in the slightest, it certainly didn't show at the FedEx Forum. He had a spring in his step and did not lack for confidence as he waited while his teammates to pass him the ball. ..."
Kobe Bryant is back, and it shows
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February 24
Los Angeles Times
 
"Kobe Bryant made a point of finding every teammate after the game and embracing them, even thanking them. He was indisputably back, making another mark on another 48 minutes of Lakers basketball. He hadn't played a game in 18 days, but there he was Tuesday, the ball in his hands and the game clock almost drained to zeros. So he did it again, drilling a three-pointer with 4.3 seconds left that ultimately dropped the Memphis Grizzlies, 99-98, at FedEx Forum. It was met with sarcasm. "He's lucky," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said dryly. "Very, very lucky.""
Lakers' Bryant ready to test his ankle tonight against Memphis
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February 23
L.A. Daily News
 
"Kobe Bryant had that look on his face Monday after practice. Sullen. Ornery. Determined. That meant only one thing: Bryant was ready to play basketball again. His left ankle isn't close to be 100 percent, more like 80 percent or so, Bryant speculated, but it's good enough to play on, so he'll be in the lineup tonight when the Lakers open a two-game road trip at Memphis. "I'll be good to go." he said. Bryant has not played since Feb. 5 against Denver. He isn't pain-free, but the discomfort is due mostly to putting pressure on the ankle when he's on the floor making cuts and jumping. Until this week, it hurt just to walk. Bryant doesn't expect to play limited minutes, and thinks he can play ..."
Kobe Bryant feels 'good, like a gazelle' and expects to play against Memphis
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February 23
Los Angeles Times
 
"Kobe Bryant said he would play Tuesday against Memphis, 18 days after his last game with the Lakers, bolstered by a four-day weekend and a Monday morning practice that didn't produce any pain in his left ankle. "I feel good, like a gazelle," he said. "As always, the ultimate test is to see how it develops and how it holds up to stress and the pressure of traveling and playing in back-to-backs." The Lakers play an increasingly intriguing game Wednesday in Dallas, a day after Bryant's expected return against the Grizzlies. He acknowledged that the ankle didn't feel entirely healed but said it was close enough. "Where I'm at now, I feel confident about playing and, while I play, getting to ..."
Kobe Bryant feels 'good, like a gazelle' and expects to play against Memphis
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February 23
Los Angeles Times
 
"Kobe Bryant said he would play Tuesday against Memphis, 18 days after his last game with the Lakers, bolstered by a four-day weekend and a Monday morning practice that didn't produce any pain in his left ankle. "I feel good, like a gazelle," he said. "As always, the ultimate test is to see how it develops and how it holds up to stress and the pressure of traveling and playing in back-to-backs." The Lakers play an increasingly intriguing game Wednesday in Dallas, a day after Bryant's expected return against the Grizzlies. He acknowledged that the ankle didn't feel entirely healed but said it was close enough. "Where I'm at now, I feel confident about playing and, while I play, getting to ..."
Kobe Bryant expects to play Tuesday barring setbacks
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February 22
L.A. Daily News
 
"The schedule went from excruciating to almost non-existent in a matter of days. The Lakers played eight games in 12 days during one stretch, which was linked to another streak of five games in seven days, which was followed by next to nothing. They had a four-day rest last weekend for the All-Star break, played two games and then took another four-day holiday this weekend. After a practice today, the Lakers' schedule gets back to normal Tuesday in Memphis. "It's a good schedule to have right now," Kobe Bryant said of having some extra days of rest and recovery before starting the season's stretch run. "It just comes up at the right time, with the All-Star break and this right now." Bryant ..."
Lakers' Bryant takes part in practice
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February 21
L.A. Daily News
 
"Kobe Bryant practiced with his teammates Saturday for the first time in almost a week. If there is no soreness in his injured left ankle today, if he makes it through Monday's workout and there's no pain, then he might play Tuesday. "If not, I'm firing everybody (on the training staff)," he said, laughing. That's a lot of ifs, but that was Bryant's best guesstimate for his return from a strained peroneal tendon. He originally was hurt in a Jan. 29 game against the Philadelphia 76ers, and then aggravated it Feb. 3 against the Charlotte Bobcats. "The ankle was still sore at certain points, but it went away," he said when asked about his activity in Saturday's practice."
Kobe Bryant hopes to return for Lakers' game Tuesday at Memphis
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February 21
Los Angeles Times
 
"Saturday was another day for Kobe Bryant to test his sprained left ankle, another day to gauge his progress before he decides whether to play after missing five consecutive Lakers games. Asked after practice whether Tuesday's game at Memphis would be a definite date for his return, Bryant said, "It should be. If not, I'm firing everybody." If he plays Tuesday, Bryant will have rested his ankle for 18 days. How the ankle responds Sunday after more treatment while the Lakers take another day off from practice will be another key step for Bryant. By Tuesday the Lakers will have had four days between games. Bryant practiced Monday with the hope of playing last Tuesday night, but his ankle ..."
Lakers learning to adjust without Bryant
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February 19
L.A. Daily News
 
"Kobe Bryant sat out for the fifth consecutive game because of a strained tendon in his left ankle, missing Thursday's game against the Boston Celtics. The Lakers won their first four games without their leading scorer and Thursday night said they were prepared to forge ahead for several more. They certainly handled themselves just fine in the triangle offense during victories over the Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors. If anything, their offense ran more smoothly without him. There is a pecking order within the triangle, starting with Bryant. Without him, the Lakers have adjusted, according to Jordan Farmar. "Somebody else has to make a play," ..."
Kobe's not there, so he will be there for Lakers
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February 19
Los Angeles Times
 columnist T.J. Simers
"My first Lakers game of the season, and I thought I would start slowly with Coach Phil Jackson, you know, maybe get off to a better start than last season when a question prompted him to swear on national TV. "Is it fun to do some coaching now without having the best player on the court?" Friendly, I thought, while subtly letting him know that I know how well the Lakers have done without Kobe Bryant. Jackson's response: "Is it fun to do some reporting now where you're finally coming to a game and watching the game?" We might as well be married a la the Bickersons -- it was like we had never been apart, and how funny is that? Phil and I married before Jeanie and Phil. "Believe me," I told ..."
Celtics beat Kobe-less LA
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February 19
Boston Globe
 
"This time, the snake wasn't around to strike. Under normal circumstances, if a team had a 1-point lead with less than two minutes over the first-place Lakers, they'd still be only a clutch jumper away from Kobe Bryant ripping out their hearts and hopes. These weren't normal circumstances. Bryant was out with a high ankle sprain. The Celtics didn't have to worry about the Lakers' last second assassin. Rajon Rondo kissed a floater off the glass over Lamar Odom, giving the Celtics an 87-84 lead. Odom, whose 3-pointer from in front of Doc Rivers and the Celtics' bench tied the game in the third and killed all the control the Celtics had played with for three quarters, tried willing the Lakers ..."
Lakers' Bryant likely to sit tonight against Celtics
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February 18
L.A. Daily News
 
"The ligaments in Kobe Bryant's sprained left ankle are mending nicely. Bryant, however, revealed Wednesday there are new issues with a strained left ankle tendon. He said after sitting out of practice it was doubtful he could play tonight against the Boston Celtics at Staples Center. "Right now, it's a no," said Bryant, who has missed the Lakers' past four games. "If I wake up (today) and I feel drastically different, then I'll play, but I doubt it. It's not just a sprained ankle. Tendons are a little different. They have their own agenda as to when they want to heal." Bryant practiced with his teammates Monday, but decided against playing Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors. He said ..."
Ankle injury KO's Kobe Bryant for tonight
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February 18
Boston Herald
 
"The bright lights are beckoning, but as of early yesterday afternoon Kobe Bryant was unlikely to play against the Celtics tonight. The Lakers star has been out with a sprained left ankle that now appears to be more of a peroneal tendon problem, and he'd like to be on the floor for this nationally televised game. But Bryant doesn't want to prolong his recovery, and with the Lakers not playing next until Tuesday, this is a good chance for him to get a serious break. "It's important for everybody on this team to understand what we're playing for," Bryant said. "I would love to come back and play, but I'm not ready, so I won't. We want to win a championship. We have to do what's necessary to ..."
Kobe Bryant doesn't expect to play against Boston
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February 18
Los Angeles Times
 
"Kobe Bryant probably won't play Thursday against Boston, but, then again, who are the Celtics these days? Bryant did not practice Wednesday and didn't try to hide the fact that his left ankle was bothering him when asked whether he would play against the Lakers' longtime rival. "Right now it's a no," Bryant said Wednesday. "If I wake up [Thursday] and I feel drastically different, then I'll play, but I doubt it." Bryant revealed that he wasn't bothered as much by a sprained left ankle as he was by a sore small tendon on the outside part of the lower leg that runs behind the ankle bone. "I've played through sprained ankles," Bryant said. "Tendons are a little different. They kind of have ..."
Lakers' Bryant remains seated
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February 17
L.A. Daily News
 
"On second thought, Kobe Bryant decided against returning to the lineup for Tuesday's game against Golden State. He sat out for the fourth straight game - the fifth if you count Sunday's All-Star Game - because of a sprained left ankle. Bryant practiced with his teammates Monday after returning from the All-Star festivities in Dallas. He ran up and down the court in El Segundo and all indications were that he could play Tuesday against the Warriors at Staples Center. In hindsight, Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he should have known better than to expect the team's leading scorer back in the starting lineup. Jackson said he realized later Bryant didn't try to drive to the basket and was ..."
Lakers improve to 4-0 without Kobe Bryant
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February 17
Los Angeles Times
 
"The first surprise came earlier in the day, when Kobe Bryant decided he would not play against the Golden State Warriors. Then the outcome of the game itself was in doubt, the Lakers stumbling Tuesday against the hapless Warriors, who entered with punch line-inspiring credentials of a 14-37 record, 4-22 on the road. But the Lakers hemmed and hawed their way to a victory, 104-94, another testament to their ability to win without Bryant as much as the Warriors' inability to win, period. Shannon Brown shook off a miserable effort in the All-Star dunk competition, Andrew Bynum returned from a two-game absence, and the Lakers came back successfully from the All-Star break, even if Bryant ..."
Bryant sits out Lakers win; questionable for Thursday
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February 17
Los Angeles Times
 
"The first surprise came earlier in the day, when Kobe Bryant decided he would not play against the Golden State Warriors. Then the outcome of the game itself was in doubt, the Lakers stumbling Tuesday against the hapless Warriors, who entered with punch line-inspiring credentials of a 14-37 record, 4-22 on the road. But the Lakers hemmed and hawed their way to a victory, 104-94, another testament to their ability to win without Bryant as much as the Warriors' inability to win, period. Shannon Brown shook off a miserable effort in the All-Star dunk competition, Andrew Bynum returned from a two-game absence, and the Lakers came back successfully from the All-Star break, even if Bryant ..."
Lakers' Bryant, Bynum in; Walton out
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February 16
L.A. Daily News
 
"he Lakers got good news and bad news when they returned to practice Monday after the four-day All-Star break. Injured starters Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum completed full workouts and are expected to play tonight when the Lakers host the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center, but reserve forward Luke Walton is out again after suffering a pinched nerve in his back, and his absence could be an extended one. Neither Bryant nor Bynum can be considered 100 percent at the moment, with Bynum describing himself at 80 percent. Bynum, who is suffering from a bruised hip, said the layoff helped a bit, although pain and discomfort still persists when he walks and runs due to continued swelling. "I ..."
Kobe Bryant to rejoin Lakers' lineup Tuesday
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February 16
Los Angeles Times
 
"Kobe Bryant was back, without a limp. So was Andrew Bynum, though he returned with a frown. The Lakers, an injured but successful bunch when last seen on a basketball court, returned to practice Monday with some promising health updates outweighing the negative ones. Bryant practiced Monday after spending All-Star weekend in Dallas, where the extent of his activities was making promotional appearances and passing the ball to Shannon Brown in the dunk contest. He will play Tuesday against Golden State, Bryant's first game since aggravating a sprained ankle Feb. 5. He did not talk to reporters Monday. "He said he didn't have the normal strength he'd like to have, but it'll come back," Lakers ..."
Lakers' Bryant decides to skip All-Star game
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February 12
L.A. Daily News
 
"In the end, Kobe Bryant decided it was better to sit and rest rather than play with pain. A sprained left ankle will keep him from playing in the All-Star game Sunday in Arlington, Texas, the fourth game he will miss because of his injury. David Stern, the NBA commissioner, named Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks to replace Bryant, who was selected to be a starter in voting by the fans. It will be up to Denver's George Karl, the Western Conference coach, to select a starter to take Bryant's spot. Sitting out Sunday means Bryant will have 10 days between the last time he played in a game, Feb. 5 against the Nuggets, and the Lakers' next contest Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors at ..."
Jason Kidd replaces Kobe Bryant on West team
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February 12
Dallas Morning News
 
"Jason Kidd would like to do one thing for All-Star Weekend. "I hope I can bring the weather with me," he said. Kidd is putting away his golf clubs and leaving 70-degree weather in Arizona, where he was set to enjoy a stress-free weekend. He will return to Dallas in triumphant fashion after he was selected to replace the injured Kobe Bryant on the Western Conference roster in Sunday's All-Star Game. Bryant withdrew because of an ankle injury that has kept him out of several games for the Los Angeles Lakers. Allen Iverson also was excused from the game because of an illness in his family and will be replaced by New York's David Lee for the East. Bryant's absence also creates an opening in ..."
Lakers' Kobe Bryant to miss All-Star game; to be replaced by Mav's Kidd
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February 12
Los Angeles Times
 
"All the will-he-or-won't-he chatter was rendered moot Thursday when the NBA announced that Kobe Bryant would not play in the All-Star game because of a sprained left ankle. The Lakers guard will be replaced by Dallas veteran Jason Kidd, further diminishing the appeal of a weekend in which Southern California fans had hoped Bryant would lead the West All-Stars to victory and Blake Griffin would dunk on some second-year player's head. Well, there's always Lakers guard Shannon Brown competing in the dunk contest. Bryant has missed the Lakers' last three games and did not speak with reporters about his All-Star status after sitting out a victory over Utah on Wednesday. The upside is that ..."
No Bryant, no problem
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February 11
Salt Lake Tribune
 
"The Lakers didn't have Kobe Bryant on Wednesday night at EnergySolutions Arena. But they did have Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol and Jordan Farmar. That was more than enough to dominate the Utah Jazz. Odom, Gasol and Farmar combined for 65 points on 24-for-35 shooting and the Lakers cooled off the Jazz in the final game before the All-Star break with an emphatic 96-81 win. The win was the Lakers' third in a row without Bryant, who has been sidelined with a sprained ankle and might not play in Sunday's All-Star Game in Dallas. "I want him to do what's right for him," coach Phil Jackson said. In the Lakers' wire-to-wire win over Utah, Odom, Gasol and Farmar played like All-Stars on both ends of ..."
Even without Bryant, Lakers cruise to win pver Jazz
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February 11
The Deseret News
 
"Kobe Bryant missed his third consecutive game on Wednesday night at EnergySolutions Arena, yet his Los Angeles Lakers still managed to cool off the red-hot Utah Jazz with ease, 96-81. The Lakers are now 3-0 in the three games without their superstar guard. That hardly means they aren't anxiously awaiting Bryant's return, however. "We can't wait to get Kobe back," said Lakers forward Ron Artest. "We need him." That's no doubt true in the long run, as the Lakers attempt to win another NBA championship. But L.A. certainly didn't need Bryant — or starting center and third-leading scorer Andrew Bynum, who also missed the game with an injury — on Wednesday night against the Jazz. "We feel we're ..."
Lakers' Bryant, Odom accept invitations for Team USA; Bynum declines
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February 11
L.A. Daily News
 
"Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom answered the call. Andrew Bynum did not. The three Lakers were selected Wednesday for USA Basketball's expanded roster for the world championships this summer in Turkey and the 2012 Olympics in London. Bryant and Odom accepted the invitation; Bynum declined because of injury concerns. Bryant and Odom will be trying to make their second Olympic team. Bryant was part of the so-called Redeem Team, which won the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Games. Odom played on the United States team that won bronze in 2004 in Athens. Twenty-seven players were selected, including nine players from the 2008 Games. The world championship and Olympic teams will be picked from that ..."
Lakers rip Jazz to go 3-0 without Kobe Bryant
Comment
February 11
Los Angeles Times
 
"Kobe Bryant sat in the locker room and watched the latest surprise in a revealing -- make that very revealing -- five days. He was sidelined again by a sprained left ankle, but the Lakers didn't mourn. Andrew Bynum sat out because of a bruised hip, so everybody else pushed forward. Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom carried the Lakers to a third consecutive victory without their leading scorer, a 96-81 exhibition in teamwork Wednesday over the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. The Jazz had won nine consecutive games, but that ended amid a season-high 25 points from Odom. The Jazz had won 10 in a row at home, though it was in jeopardy from the start, the Lakers playing committed defense and finding ..."
Lakers rip Jazz to go 3-0 without Kobe Bryant
Comment
February 11
Los Angeles Times
 
"Kobe Bryant sat in the locker room and watched the latest surprise in a revealing -- make that very revealing -- five days. He was sidelined again by a sprained left ankle, but the Lakers didn't mourn. Andrew Bynum sat out because of a bruised hip, so everybody else pushed forward. Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom carried the Lakers to a third consecutive victory without their leading scorer, a 96-81 exhibition in teamwork Wednesday over the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. The Jazz had won nine consecutive games, but that ended amid a season-high 25 points from Odom. The Jazz had won 10 in a row at home, though it was in jeopardy from the start, the Lakers playing committed defense and finding ..."
Bryant will be game-time decision
Comment
February 10
ESPN.com
 
"Kobe Bryant remains a game-time decision following the Lakers shootaround Wednesday but it appears unlikely that he will play against the Utah Jazz. "It's not looking very good, he didn't go out and shoot around," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "We're not expecting him to go." Bryant has missed the Lakers last two games with a sprained left ankle. Bryant first injured the ankle seven games ago on Jan. 29 in Philadelphia after a third-quarter collision with the Sixers' Elton Brand. The condition of his ankle worsened against Charlotte when Lamar Odom stepped on his left foot just before halftime, re-aggravating the injury. Andrew Bynum did not participate in shoot around either and said ..."
Nine gold medalists added to U.S. national team roster
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February 10
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers), Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat) and Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) joined six others from the reigning Olympic champions who are among 27 players on the U.S. national team roster. The players chosen Wednesday will be candidates for this summer's world championships and the 2012 Olympics in London. Also returning from the team that ended the Americans' eight-year gold medal drought in major competitions are: Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors), Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets), Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic), Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets), Deron Williams (Utah Jazz) and Carlos Boozer (Utah Jazz)."