LAKERS UPDATE: PRACTICE IS FIRST STEP FOR TURIAF.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

The moment arrived much later than expected - an agonizingly long five-and-a-half-months later to be precise - but Ronny Turiaf finally put on a purple-and-gold uniform and took the floor with the Lakers on Wednesday.

``The team I wanted to be a part of all along,'' said Turiaf, who practiced with the Lakers for the first time this year after undergoing open-heart surgery in July.

What happened in those five months is nothing short of a medical miracle. Turiaf, the Lakers second-round draft pick from Gonzaga University, was diagnosed with enlarged aortic root less than a month after being drafted and underwent surgery on July 6, 2005.

At the time of the diagnosis, there was a question whether Turiaf would ever play again, let alone this year. But the more doctors at Stanford Medical Center reviewed Turiaf's condition, the more they were convinced he'd be back on the court sometime this season.

``I remember (reminding) the doctor, 'We're in the NBA,' '' Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said. ``And his response was 'I know you're in the NBA.' ''

The real convincing was up to Turiaf, though. After rehabilitating at Gonzaga after surgery, he was cleared by Stanford and Lakers doctors recently to resume playing competitively with the Yakama Sun Kings of the CBA. A nine-game stint with the Sun Kings sufficiently convinced Kupchak that Turiaf was fit enough to join the Lakers this year.

Turiaf signed a three-year contract Tuesday and practiced with the Lakers Wednesday.

The next step is showing Lakers coach Phil Jackson enough in practice to prove he deserves some playing time, although there is still a chance he'll be sent to the Lakers' affiliate in the NBA Developmental League for more conditioning work.

As far as first practices go, Turiaf thought he did pretty well Wednesday.

``I didn't do too much in the five-on-five drills, but I thought I did a good job passing the ball, setting screens and playing tough defense,'' Turiaf said. ``That's what my job is going to be.''

Jackson is taking a wait-and-see approach before making any decisions on Turiaf's playing time.

``He knows there's a good week or so of hard training before it becomes a process of where he's actually out there filling in,'' Jackson said. ``But it was fun to have him out there.''

At least one teammate was impressed.

``I thought he looked great out there,'' Kobe Bryant said. ``He was running the floor, setting good picks and making good passes. I'm happy to have him back.''

Bryant knows enough about Turiaf to not be surprised he made it back to the court so soon after his surgery. Nevertheless, he considers him an inspiration.

``It puts a lot of things in perspective when it comes to sports and taking things for granted.'' Bryant said. ``But he's back now and I'm sure he appreciates the game and what it's done for him. And for me, I'm just excited to have him back out there on the floor.''

Vincent Bonsignore, [phone]

vincent.bonsignore(at)dailynews.com

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- Ross Siler