LAKERS NOTEBOOK: NIKE MIGHT BE SHOE TO FIT KOBE.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

The multimillion-dollar battle for the right to clothe Kobe Bryant has become, apparently, a one-company footrace. Nike might be the winner by default after Bryant and Reebok ceased negotiations this week.

Reebok announced its withdrawal from the bidding Friday, saying Bryant's asking price - believed to be in the $6 million-to-$8 million-a-year range - was too high. Bryant claims he's the one who called off negotiations, although given that such a move kills his leverage with Nike, that seems unlikely.

Bryant, who dropped Adidas as his sponsor last year, said he hopes to sign a new shoe deal soon, and - without ever actually saying the word ``Nike'' - acknowledged he's only negotiating with one company.

``They're obviously a front-runner now, aren't they?'' he said. ``It's still a work in progress. There's still a lot of work to be done.''

At stake is not only what logo adorns Bryant's feet for the next several years but who will cultivate his image and shape his corporate portfolio.

Bryant, in Atlanta for All-Star festivities last weekend, met at length with Reebok representatives. Negotiations went so well there were premature reports of him signing with the company.

Bryant said he concluded two days ago Reebok was ``not the place for me.'' He did not elaborate.

Reebok officials, in an unusual move, issued a statement saying they had ceased negotiations, despite the ``enormous temptation'' to sign Bryant.

``In the end, we realized that we simply could not justify the costs, which our analysis showed could exceed the benefits,'' CEO Paul Fireman said.

Bryant dismissed that explanation as ``politics'' and said he wouldn't be surprised if Reebok tried to re-enter the picture.

--Ring thing: Bryant sought to defuse the other news item of the day, that he has yet to sign a contract with USA Basketball to play in the 2004 Olympics. Others who have been named to the team have all signed.

``I'll play,'' Bryant said. ``It's pretty much a done deal. It'll be settled pretty quickly. I have lot of things on my plate, but that's obviously one of the things I'm going to concentrate on.''

--Achy: Shaquille O'Neal's energetic performance in Sunday's All-Star Game caused a flare-up in both his surgically repaired right big toe and his tendinitis-stricken left knee. A team physician examined the knee Thursday but found nothing serious.

O'Neal, without breaking stride as he walked away from reporters, described his current state as ``fine (messed) upchilling.''

--Last word: Someone told O'Neal that Phoenix rookie Casey Jacobsen believes teams no longer fear the Lakers. Responded O'Neal, ``Who? Who is that? Next time I come to Phoenix, tell him to meet me at the airport, so he can carry my bags.''

KOBE WATCH

MVP candidate Kobe Bryant has been on a scoring tear, scoring at least 35 points in each of his past eight games. His numbers:

LAST GAME: 44

AVG. PAST 8 GAMES: 42.3

SEASON AVG.: 29.6

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

no caption (Kobe Bryant)

Box:

KOBE WATCH (see text)