BRYANT BRINGS FRESH OUTLOOK TO FORUM FAITHFUL.Byline: Marc Stein Marc Stein is a sports reporter. He began writing for ESPN.com in 2000 and signed on full-time in 2002 to serve as the site's senior National Basketball Association writer. Daily News Staff Writer He makes the Lakers younger, he could some day make them better and he definitely makes management smile. He is Kobe Bryant Kobe Bean Bryant (born July 23 1978) is an American All-Star shooting guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. , and, at least at first glance, he looks more man than child. ``I would ask you, does he act like a 17-year-old kid?'' Lakers vice president Jerry West
``And I will tell you his talent is not that of a 17-year-old kid - period.'' The first opportunity to see the on-court ability that has mesmerized West comes tonight, when Bryant joins the Lakers' summer-league squad against Detroit at Long Beach State's Pyramid at 5 p.m. If Bryant's poise at the microphone carries over, the Lakers will undoubtedly be satisfied. ``I'd be lying if I said I'm going to the NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= , but I don't think I can make it,'' said Bryant, whose answers and dress suit were equally sharp as he unfurled his new gold-and-purple No. 8 jersey and faced his first inquisition from the local media. ``I'd like to think (I'm ready I'm Ready is the double platinum second release from R&B singer Tevin Campbell. I'm Ready yielded the biggest R&B hit of his career the #1 R&B smash "Can We Talk", and produce 3 more successful hits in "I'm Ready", "Always In My Heart" and "Don't Say Goodbye Girl". ). I've never played in an NBA game, let alone gone through an NBA season, so I really have no clue. ``(But) you can expect a hard worker. I'm young, but I won't back down from anybody.'' Rest assured it was that confidence and Bryant's physical gifts that convinced West to give up starting center Vlade Divac Vlade Divac (Serbian Cyrillic: Владе Дивац, pronounced [ˈvlaːdɛ ˈdiːvaʦ] for the Philadelphia prep star. This wasn't just a move to create salary-cap room for the pursuit of Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (pronounced "shak-KEEL") (born March 6, 1972 in Newark, New Jersey), frequently referred to simply as Shaq, is an American professional basketball player, generally regarded as one of the most dominant in the National Basketball Association (NBA). . Even if they can't sign Shaq away from Orlando - negotiations continue with O'Neal's agent, Leonard Armato - the Lakers insist that the possible down-the-line payoff from their 6-foot-6, 200-pound prodigy made the trade a healthy risk. ``If you want to know what his game is like at this point, it's a good bit like Eddie Jones' (game),'' Lakers coach Del Harris said. ``And you know how highly I think of Eddie Jones. ``There's nothing about him that has not impressed me. If you want me to keep talking about him, you're going to think I'm talking I'm Talking was a 1980s Australian funk-pop rock band, noted for launching vocalist Kate Ceberano. History After the break-up of the Melbourne-based experimental funk band Essendon Airport in 1983, members Robert Goodge (guitar), Ian Cox (saxophone) and Barbara Hogarth about Clark Kent This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. Please help Wikipedia by adding references. See the for details. This article has been tagged since September 2007. .'' West said: ``Sometimes you have a racehorse racehorse refers usually to thoroughbred but may also include standardbred, trotter. and it doesn't pan out. We think this racehorse is going to be an incredible player.'' Bryant certainly was incredible at the high school level, scoring more points in his four-year career (2,883) than anyone in the history of Southeastern Pennsylvania basketball. More even than Wilt Chamberlain. He could have attended the university of his choice with an SAT score of 1,080 but elected to turn pro. And why not? Bryant is exploring the possibility of completing his college courses over the Internet while learning the NBA from professor Harris. ``He's Kobe Bryant, basketball player,'' the coach said, refusing to call him strictly a shooting guard or small forward, just as he refused to use position labels last year for Magic Johnson. Knowing Bryant, and his admiration for Johnson, he probably hopes to blossom into an oversized o·ver·size n. 1. A size that is larger than usual. 2. An oversize article or object. adj. o·ver·size also o·ver·sized Larger in size than usual or necessary. point guard in the Magic mold. Old No. 32 happens to be Bryant's idol, and happens to be the last teen-ager the Lakers got out of the draft. ``I guess that adds pressure,'' Bryant quipped. It's pressure he won't be dealing with alone. His parents, longtime NBA forward Joe Bryant and wife Pam, will be moving to Los Angeles to guide their son through a preps-to-pros jump only five players - most recently Shawn Kemp and Kevin Garnett - have tried in the past 20 years. Pam Bryant, for one, doesn't expect her son to need much pampering. She has believed in his maturity since he was a first-grader, when, after three weeks of school in Italy while Dad was starting his overseas career, Kobe announced that Mom no longer had to accompany him to classes. ``(There's) a lot of flying in the NBA,'' Pam said. ``I just hope all the planes are safe. That's the only thing I'm worried about. ``He's on the ball.'' And he's on the Lakers. Tonight, he'll even get to play for them - after just a couple practices and a few pick-up games at UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX with Johnson. The signing of his three-year, $2.918 million contract will come later - after the Lakers acquire O'Neal or two second-tier free agents to replace Divac - so agent Arn Tellem has secured an insurance policy to protect Kid Kobe in summer-league play. ``I was in the airport and someone said, `Hey, do you play basketball?' '' Bryant said. ``I said, `Yeah, I play basketball.' But I used to say I'm a little man from Lower Merion High School Lower Merion High School, is an American public high school in Ardmore, a community in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania. It is the larger of the two high schools in Lower Merion School District, which serves both Lower Merion Township and the Borough of Narberth. . Then I thought, `You know, I'm a Los Angeles Laker.' It just brings a smile from ear to ear. ``I'm ready to contribute to the basketball team. Whether it's sitting on the bench waving a towel, handing (someone) a cup of water or hitting a game-winning shot.'' KIDDIE kid·die or kid·dy n. pl. kid·dies Slang A small child. kiddie Noun Informal a child CORPS The Lakers now have the NBA's youngest player in Kobe Bryant and are on the way to fielding the league's youngest team. Elden Campbell, if he re-signs, will be their oldest player at 28. Corie Blount 27 Kobe Bryant 18 Cedric Ceballos 27 Derek Fisher 22 Eddie Jones 25 George Lynch 26 Anthony Peeler 26 Nick Van Exel Nickey (Nick) Maxwell Van Exel (born November 27 1971 in Kenosha, Wisconsin) is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA. Van Exel, a 6'1" left-handed point guard, was most well known for his flashy style of play and his ability to hit critical shots during 24 Average Age: 24.3 Note:Ages are based on start of the season. Only includes players under contract and draftees. CAPTION(S): Photo, Box Photo: (color) New Laker Kobe Bryant, 17, poses with h is jersey at the Forum. The youngster has worked out with Magic Johnson at UCLA. Phil McCarten/Daily News Box: KIDDIE CORPS (see text) |
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