INCHING TOWARD STARDOM; ALREADY, BRYANT IS REACHING NEW HEIGHTS.

Byline: Howard Beck Daily News Staff Writer

The secret weapon Kobe Bryant has stashed away in his pituitary gland hardly seems fair.

Bryant made the NBA's all-rookie second team last year at age 18, scored an average of 16.2 points when he played at least 25 minutes and won the NBA's slam-dunk contest. He is widely considered one of the game's emerging superstars, and then he pulls this.

He grows.

An inch, to be exact. And Bryant, who sported the fashionably bald look with the Lakers last season, says it isn't his new head of hair that added the height. He is legitimately, officially 6-foot-7. And he's probably not done adding inches.

``My father's 6-10, my mother's 5-11. Chances are, I'm going to be tall. I hope so,'' said Bryant, also up 10 pounds to 210.

As Bryant, now 19, enters his second NBA season, his growth will be a key factor in the Lakers' championship run. Physical growth, mental growth, emotional growth. And as all that comes to pass, the minutes-per-game will probably grow too.

Bryant, who possesses the ball-handling and shooting skills of a guard, is adding height and muscle to the body of a probable small forward. His game is already diverse, and the Lakers feel comfortable playing him at three positions, including the point.

``When we first got him, I was asked what his ultimate position might be, and I said it might well be a 3 (small forward), depending on how he grows,'' said coach Del Harris.

Harris is quick to point out Bryant is still learning and could be a several years away from true dominance, but he has high praise for his skills.

``He's like (the Bulls' Scottie) Pippen or (Michael) Jordan in the sense you can stick them out there and they can play (three positions),'' Harris said. ``They're all strong enough that they can guard most of the (off guards and small forwards), and they're quick and aggressive enough that they can rebound.''

In one practice session at College of the Desert, Bryant went up and blocked reserve center Sean Rooks, 6-10, 260 pounds. ``He's strong and he's a great jumper,'' Harris said.

That versatility translates into more playing time for Bryant. After overcoming a preseason injury, Bryant came on strongly last season, playing in 71 games, averaging 15.5 minutes, 7.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists.

He scored in double figures 25 times, led the team in scoring twice, became the youngest player to start an NBA game, and in his six starts averaged 14.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.67 steals.

And now he's beginning the 1997-98 season a year smarter and an inch taller.

Harris personally coached the Lakers' summer league team in order to work with Bryant, and everyone believes it paid off.

Harris said Bryant has matured in his decision-making, understanding better when to penetrate and challenge the defense and when to settle for a longer shot, when to use his excellent one-on-one skills to create opportunities and when to pass it off.

He began the summer league slowly, shooting about 30 percent and taking far too many shots. But Bryant's growth began to show by the season's conclusion, and he increased his summer league average to 40 percent with an excellent run in the last few games.

Unfortunately, the lasting impression of Bryant's rookie season became his missed 20-footer at the end of regulation and two 3-point airballs in overtime in Utah's series-clinching Game 5 victory in the second round of the playoffs. Bryant said he forgot about it by the time he hit the locker room.

``Everything happens for a reason. All the injuries happen for a reason, shots that I miss happen for a reason, and I believe they just help me mature as a person, as a basketball player,'' Bryant said. ``I think it gave me a lot of confidence, because my teammates trusted me to take those shots with the season on the line. So if I get put in the same situation this year hopefully I'll come through for them.''

KOBE BRYANT

Age: 19

Height/Weight: 6-7, 210

Acquired: From Charlotte, in exchange for C Vlade Divac, July 11, 1996, after being selected 13th overall in NBA draft.

High School: Scored 2,883 career points at Lower Merion High in Ardmore, Pa., becoming all-team leading scorer in Southeastern Pennsylvania history. Was USA Today's national high school player of the year in 1995-96, averaging 30.8 points and 12 rebounds per game.

Last year: As a rookie, averaged 7.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 15.5 minutes in 71 games. Missed training camp because of injury suffered in pickup game last summer. Was selected to NBA all-rookie second team.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

Photo: The Lakers' Kobe Bryant, 19, grew an inch in the offseason. He's 6-foot-7 now.

Associated Press 

Box: KOBE BRYANT (see text)