BRYANT TURNS THE PAGE SEATTLE 87, LAKERS 80.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - Mitch Kupchak and Jerry Buss issued a four-point statement through the Lakers' staff. Rudy Tomjanovich offered words of praise outside the locker room. And Kobe Bryant played as if he couldn't have cared less about the pen of Phil Jackson.

Each man, in his own way, moving to blunt the criticism of Bryant coming from an excerpt of Jackson's new book.

With one foot firmly planted in the past, the Lakers tried to take a step forward in their exhibition opener Tuesday night at the Pond, first coming to Bryant's defense, then scoring just 36 points in the second half of an 87-80 loss to the Seattle SuperSonics.

Jackson's book won't be released for another nine days but it already is causing headaches. In an excerpt to be published in Los Angeles magazine, Jackson said he and Bryant's relationship felt like ``psychological war'' and that he asked to have Bryant traded in January.

The excerpt portrays an insubordinate Bryant calling teammates by nasty 12-letter words, complaining about the private jet the Lakers shared in the cost of for his Colorado court appearances and taking a cell phone call in the locker room before Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

``Ask Shaq to do something and he'll say, 'No, I don't want to do that.' But after a little pouting, he will do it,'' Jackson wrote. ``Ask Kobe and he'll say, 'OK,' and then he will do whatever he wants.''

To which Bryant responded Tuesday by hitting six of his first seven shots and scoring 15 points in the first quarter. He finished with 35 points and 21 shots in 41 minutes; the Lakers' four other starters combined for 13 points.

Tomjanovich is getting used to the territory. His first day as Lakers coach in July was overshadowed by the O'Neal trade. So it figured that his first game back from bladder cancer would be overshadowed by the headlines from Jackson's book.

Only eight days into his relationship with Bryant, Tomjanovich could not say enough good things before the game.

``I can't think of a better situation, I have not had this good a start with a star player,'' Tomjanovich said. ``Not to take anything away from the guys that I have had. He's been proactive. He's gone out and made the calls, he's called my assistant coaches ... He's been great.''

But Tomjanovich said he still probably would read Jackson's book - ``Just curious'' - though he wanted a free copy.

Tomjanovich also was asked how he could avoid letting the news that keeps cropping up from the Lakers' past avoid becoming a distraction for the team's present.

``I think the guys who have been here are sort of used to that stuff,'' Tomjanovich said. ``I pick up the paper or watch the news and it's almost like a sitcom or something as far as all the different things that come up and very little of it being what's at hand.''

The Lakers also put out a four-point statement on behalf of Buss and Kupchak. The two men charged that ``several'' inaccuracies existed in Jackson's version of events, though the Lakers would not try to set the record straight.

``There are anecdotes that portray things that took place or were said in private, closed-door meetings,'' the statement said.

--Notes: Caron Butler did not play after suffering a thigh bruise in practice Monday. Kareem Rush started in his place. ... Tomjanovich held out Brian Grant as Grant recovers from a sore neck. ... Luke Walton was sidelined by an injured ankle but plans to play Sunday. ... Jumaine Jones needed six stitches to close a gash over his right eye.

Ross Siler, [phone]

ross.siler(at)dailynews.com

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The Lakers' Kobe Bryant drives past Seattle's Vladimir Radmanovic in Tuesday's exhibition.

Chris Carlson/Associated Press