LAKERS INSIDE LOOK: MALONE'S SPIEL ANGERS BRYANT.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

For the second time in five days, Kobe Bryant stood before a group of reporters and addressed his relationship with Karl Malone - a relationship that Bryant said in no uncertain terms Sunday never would be the same.

Bryant confirmed that Malone approached his wife, Vanessa, at the Lakers' Nov. 23 game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Staples Center and made suggestive comments that prompted Vanessa to call Malone's wife to inform her that her husband was out of line.

In their exchange, Bryant said, Vanessa asked Malone, who was wearing a cowboy hat, what he was hunting, and Malone, 41, answered: ``I'm hunting for little Mexican girls.''

Vanessa Bryant, 22, is a Latina.

Bryant was incensed when he found out what happened after the game. He still was angry before Sunday's game against the Orlando Magic.

``What he said is what he said,'' Bryant said. ``Facts are facts. This thing went on for a while. My wife isn't going to sit there and exaggerate something or blow something out of proportion that doesn't need to be blown out of proportion.

``She felt uncomfortable being around the dude. To the point where she felt like she had to call his wife and tell his wife, 'Your husband's acting out of control right now.' ''

Bryant said Malone made further comments that left his wife unnerved. Bryant did not elaborate on what those were.

``To be really honest with you,'' Bryant said, ``there was a lot more that took place beside that that made her feel uncomfortable being around the dude.''

He later added: ``My relationship with him on a personal level will never be the same. How can it be?''

The feud between Malone and Bryant blew up last week after Bryant said in a radio interview that Malone needed to make a decision about playing this season. Malone and his agent fired back, saying a private exchange between the two led to a falling out.

Bryant was asked Sunday if he felt betrayed by Malone. They live blocks apart in a Newport Beach development, and Bryant said they used to hang out, baby-sitting each other's children and trading barbs.

``He was like a mentor to me, an older brother to me, you know what I mean?'' Bryant said. ``So when something like that happens ... you're upset, you're hurt. There's all those emotions tied into one at the same time.''

Bryant said Malone did not deny making the comment when confronted on the phone. Bryant also said he didn't threaten Malone in subsequent conversations.

``I don't have anything to apologize for, as far as from what took place down there,'' Bryant said. ``The comments that he said, I don't know any man in this room that would not be upset about that. That's just not human nature.''

Although he made clear his personal feelings for Malone, Bryant said they could play on the same team if Lakers management so desired.

Lakers owner Jerry Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak are expected to meet with Malone in the next two weeks, a team spokesman said.

``I'm going to have to embrace him as a teammate, but only as a teammate,'' Bryant said, ``and try to accomplish a goal and that's help this team win ballgames.''

Bryant also detailed what was said in his phone conversation with Malone.

```Stay away from my wife,''' Bryant said. ```What's wrong with you? How could you?' He said, 'I'm sorry if I said anything that was out of line, I apologize.' I don't know what else to tell you guys.''

Ross Siler, [phone]

ross.siler(at)dailynews.com