CALM AFTER THE STORM: BRYANT IN LIGHT MOOD KOBE PEACEFUL AS LAKERS TOP SONICS LAKERS 126, SEATTLE 106.

Byline: ELLIOTT TEAFORD

Staff Writer

BAKERSFIELD - Apparently, all it took was a trip out of the big, bad city to put Kobe Bryant in a mellow mood.

For the first time in more than a week, Bryant actually seemed relaxed in public. He smiled, joked and chatted amiably before the Lakers faced the Seattle SuperSonics in an exhibition game Thursday night at Rabobank Arena.

The tumult of a few days ago seemed like ancient history.

"I don't pay attention to it," Bryant said. "I pay attention to one thing and one thing only and that's getting ready (for opening night Oct. 30). That's it. I can't concern myself with all the other stuff going on."

Rumors swirled around the Lakers' practice facility Tuesday that Bryant had cleaned out his locker and told management that he had played his final game for the team. Bryant said in a brief parking lot interview that the stories were untrue.

Those were Bryant only words of substance since team owner Jerry Buss said last week that he would consider trading the superstar guard.

Bryant had dodged reporters since the Lakers' return from Honolulu and he sat out practices for three consecutive days, which only fueled rumors that he was about to be traded. Bryant demanded to be dealt in May, venting after the team's playoff ouster.

"Why would I go and bang my head against the wall?" Bryant said when asked about ducking beat writers for most of the week. "There's nothing much for me to say. I said what I needed to say. Everyone was wondering if I cleaned out my locker. I didn't do that. There was really nothing for me to say after that.

"There's not much point in worrying about what management is doing. I vented my frustrations over the summer. I'll just leave it there."

Bryant also said he has gained a confidant in Lakers coach Phil Jackson, talking at length about matters related and unrelated to the ongoing melodrama.

"Phil is a great person to bounce things off, just to talk," Bryant said. "And a lot of times I like hearing stories, his old stories from the Knicks days. He obviously loves the game. I do too. So it's easy to talk about the game."

Moreover, Bryant said he's found comfort in acting as a mentor for young guards Jordan Farmar and Javaris Crittenton, who are battling for the backup point guard spot.

"I enjoy doing it for players I can see have a will," he said. "(Crittenton) has a great work ethic and so does Jordan Farmar. It's very easy to pull them aside and help them out. You have to see all your options (as a point guard in the Lakers' triangle offense).

It's like a quarterback. It's a big challenge out there."

Bryant played limited minutes because of tendinitis in his right knee, scoring four points on 1-for-3 shooting with four rebounds and three assists in the game's first nine minutes before sitting out the rest of the first half.

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