Teammates Share Kobe’s Night

ARDMORE, Pa. —  On the night Lower Merion High retired his No. 33, Kobe Bryant stood again in its gym, where nearly six years ago he announced he would go from 12th grade to the NBA.

From a stage that nearly teetered over on Saturday night, in a room of thick oak bleachers and maroon banners, Bryant could look across most of his life.

His parents sat to his right. His young wife, Vanessa, sat ahead of him.

Some 1,500 friends, classmates and fans sat behind her, each having paid $10 for the 90-minute ceremony. There were many highlights of Kobe, bald, crossing over 10th-graders who became accountants.

That was all expected, along with the English teachers and basketball coaches and former teammates.

What made them all gasp, however, what made Bryant smile so large and touch his chest, were the surprise attendees in the third row. On a weekend night in a strange town, with plenty of other things to do, they sat, from left to right: Shaquille O’Neal, Brian Shaw, Samaki Walker, Devean George, Mark Madsen and Rick Fox.

They watched the videos. And they politely applauded the superintendent of schools. And they laughed with the kid with the funny stories about Kobe, not passing to him, either.

When it was done, O’Neal stood first and strode to the stage and held out his hand, and Bryant hugged him instead.

“I love you guys,” Bryant said to them, to everyone, over and over.

At least Bryant was cheered in one gym in this town. Bryant admitted last year’s NBA Finals, the last three games played not 15 miles away in Philadelphia, was bigger than he let on.

“It felt good to be home,” he said.

He left them without hair, and returned finally with two NBA championships, and millions of dollars, a handful of security guards, an agent, a wife and six teammates. Beneath the low metal girders in the gym where his game was made, he returned finally with autographs and grace, and people actually screamed and stood on their seats when he walked in.

One man in particular held a camera to his face and took flash pictures for nearly the entire ceremony, and he laughed and he waved at Bryant, causing a mild disruption. It got so the superintendent had to ask “Mr. O’Neal” to settle down. After all, it was Kobe’s night.

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The Lakers embark today on a five-game trip through Philadelphia, Atlanta, Orlando, Memphis and Dallas, with an excursion Monday to the White House, where President Bush will honor them for last season’s championship.

On the eve of their cross-country charter flight and their second arduous trip of the month, the Lakers ended a short losing streak. They beat the San Antonio Spurs when they had the urge to, which was better than losing consecutive games to Denver and the Clippers at Staples Center, and lifted them momentarily from the haze of five losses in seven games.

Still, at 29-11 they are three victories better than at the same time last season, which resulted in a second consecutive championship and some very short memories.

Meantime, Phil Jackson said he hopes they are working toward something resembling what they were late last season, when their 23-1 run after April 1 won the title.

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If the Lakers win today, Jackson will coach the West All-Stars in Philadelphia on Feb. 10.

The Sacramento Kings will reach tonight’s deadline with a better winning percentage, but Rick Adelman coached the game in Washington last season, and the NBA forbids the same coach in consecutive years.

That leaves Jackson and Dallas Coach Don Nelson as the candidates.

If the Lakers lose, Nelson goes.

Minnesota Coach Flip Saunders was eliminated from consideration when the Mavericks beat the Clippers Saturday night.

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TODAY

at Philadelphia, 9 PST

Channel 4

Site--First Union Center.

Radio--KLAC (570)

Records--Lakers 29-11, 76ers 21-21.

Record vs. 76ers--1-0.

Update--Allen Iverson’s 29.9 points per game lead the league. The 76ers are at .500 for the first time since they were 8-8. They have won six of seven games. In the first game between the defending NBA finalists, the Lakers won, 88-82, on Christmas Day.

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Tim Brown