By ERICA WERNER
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama will honor the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers next week, the White House said Thursday. It's not clear, though, that the basketball-loving president will shoot hoops with Kobe Bryant and his teammates.
Continuing a practice of emphasizing community service while celebrating champion sports teams, the president will accompany the Lakers to a Boys and Girls club in Washington, D.C., and visit with the kids on Monday, according to a White House advisory.
Typically the president brings teams to the White House -- as happened after the Lakers won the NBA title last year -- but this time he'll make his comments congratulating the team at the club.
Bryant and teammates Pau Gasol and Derek Fisher were among those present in August when Obama gathered some current and former NBA superstars for a private game. Obama plays basketball often but had to get his lip stitched up a couple weeks ago after another player elbowed him.
The Lakers won their 16th NBA championship in June by beating the Boston Celtics. They'll play the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, the day after meeting with Obama.
Updated 12/09/10
