EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — There's something very different about
Kobe Bryant so far in this truncated season.
It's certainly not the torn wrist ligament he's playing through. The Los Angeles Lakers star has spent
most of his NBA career dealing with injuries, and after Tuesday night's 108-99
win over Houston, he said he can get around the injury and therefore is
relatively healthy.
Might be that he's focused on his major financial commitment to a program to
help eradicate homelessness in the Los Angeles area or maybe it's the divorce
proceedings he's going through.
It's definitely not the absence of Lamar Odom, sent packing
unceremoniously to Dallas early in training camp after complaining about almost
being traded to New Orleans.
"What's done is done," Bryant said at
the time. "We just have to move on."
Maybe it's having to adjust to a new coach in Mike Brown after playing most of
the past decade under Phil Jackson. Doubtful, though, because Brown has given
Bryant free rein offensively, basically making him the on-court coach.
So, if it's none of the above, how is Bryant different?
He finally gets it.
He understands that he's got to take a lesser role some nights and let the Lakers' other two stars — Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol — share the spotlight more than
once or twice a month. The exhilarating aspect of this, if you're a teammate or
coach, is that Kobe seems to be embracing it.
Which is something very different in Lakerland.
Bryant has spent most of his career wanting the ball — needing to have the ball
— anytime the game was on the line. He didn't trust his teammates to come
through with the big play, and he didn't really care if they felt dissed.
"I'm here to win rings, not worry about feelings"
he would say when confronted with questions about being selfish. His thoughts
were cemented by the fact that he often came through in the clutch. If it
ticked off Shaquille O'Neal, all the better. Same with Jackson, Karl Malone and
Gary Payton.
This year, though, it's apparent that Kobe has embraced his role as team leader
and respected elder statesman — even though he's just 33 years old.
"I've always been the type of player who believes he can do anything on
the court," Bryant said after a recent game, "and I always will. But
Pau is a great player and Drew (Bynum) is becoming one, so I can really pick
and choose my spots when to take over. I definitely think it makes us a better
team, no doubt."
Of course, there forever will be nights like Tuesday at Staples Center against
the Rockets when Bryant will hoist up 29 shots — making 14 — and lead a
sluggish offense to a nine-point win. However, his trust in Bynum has grown,
from demanding the young center be traded for Jason Kidd in 2007 to steady
praise so far this season.
"I'm not surprised that (Bynum) is playing so well," Bryant said. "He's
always had the talent. He's just had to learn the game is hard work and
attitude."
Bynum loves the fact that Kobe and his other Lakers teammates are looking to the
24-year-old center throughout the game.
"I think it's great," said Bynum, who is averaging 22.7 points and 17.0
rebounds per game. "I'm super confident right now. I've wanted the ball
and to be more of a part of the offense, and now it's happening."
Because Bryant is making sure it does.
Brown startled some reporters before Tuesday's game when he admitted that he
has placed no restrictions on Kobe. Even though Brown calls the plays, it's often
up to Bryant where the ball is going to end up.
"(Bryant) has five rings and Pau and Andrew have one or two (actually they
both have two), so I'm going to give (Bryant) more freedom. I'm just happy Kobe
lets me coach him, because this is a players' league.
"I have no problem saying that. It makes things easier
in coaching the team."
So far, it's made a big difference in Kobe's game as well. He's proven he can be
the consummate team player, and he's shown he can still take over games when he
feels it's necessary. He also seems much more at ease with the turmoil and judgment
that comes with being Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers.
"This is LA, so it's nothing new," Kobe said. "We're the Lakers,
man, and the spotlight — good or bad — is always going to be on us. The public
and (media) all have their opinions about us. We can't worry about it. We just
have to deal with it."
