SUMMER PRO LEAGUE NOTEBOOK: DADDY BRYANT HELPING GUYS ON HIS SUMMER TEAM.

Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer

A lot of free-agent teams in the Summer Pro League have mysterious names. Among them is JBTD.

JBTD defeated Slam 109-91 on Monday, and on the JBTD bench was a face that diehard Laker fans couldn't mistake. It was Joe ``Jelly Bean'' Bryant, Kobe Bryant's dad.

So what does JBTD stand for?

``It's just a name,'' papa Bryant said. ``It's just initials.''

SPL sources later revealed that JBTD stands for the team's two founders, Joe Bryant and agent Tony Dutt. Both represent players on their SPL squad.

Bryant had a seven-year career in the NBA in the late '70s, playing with the Philadelphia 76ers, San Diego Clippers and Houston Rockets.

While his son is one of the most famous athletes in the country, Joe has stayed in the background, despite repeated efforts by media outlets to talk to him.

``I try to be low key and keep a low profile,'' he said. ``I don't do interviews, so you're lucky.''

Although Bryant gave a brief interview, he didn't go into tabloid-like rumors or juicy gossip, such as his alleged hot-and-cold relationship with his son. Instead, he focused on his team.

``For me, it's all about the guys and trying to help them play professional ball,'' Bryant said. ``I'm just trying to help out the players. A lot of times they might lack something that keeps them out of pro ball and I'm trying to help them overcome that. This is all about fun and basketball.''

JBTD has a handful of former college players, including former UCLA guard Billy Knight, who had 23 points and 10 rebounds. St. John's guard Chudney Gray and College of Sequoias forward DeAndre Hulett are also on the squad.

--Madsen looks marvelous: Mark Madsen played just 19 minutes in the Lakers' 99-95 loss to the Suns, but he made his mark. He scored a team-high 20 points and shot 8 of 11 from the field. He and Jelani McCoy are the only Lakers from last season playing in the SPL. Despite playing well into June and not getting a lengthy vacation, Madsen says he isn't overworked.

``I just love to play,'' Madsen said. ``During the season, the rotation gets short, so this is a great opportunity for me to play and work on my jump shot.''

--Outlaw is ubiquitous: Bo Outlaw was at the SPL yet again, but he didn't play on Monday. Instead, he watched the Suns/Lakers game. Outlaw plays almost every day in either the SPL or the Real Run in Carson.