Kobe Bryant, welcomed by a thunderous roar when he was introduced, played Thursday night for the first time since being charged in July with sexual assault.

Bryant joined Shaquille O'Neal and new Los Angeles Lakers teammates Karl Malone and Gary Payton for their exhibition game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Pond.

To chants of "KOBE! KOBE!" when he got the ball for the second time in the game, Bryant pulled up and made a jumper 1 1/2 minutes after the opening tipoff.

The first time he handled the ball, he tried to drive into the lane and was whistled for a charging foul.

Bryant has been ordered to stand trial in Eagle, Colo., on charges of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old worker at the resort where he was staying. He has said the sex was consensual.

During pregame introductions, Malone and Payton both received loud applause when they trotted out into the spotlight in darkened arena.

Then Bryant came out and the cheering reached a crescendo.

Many fans wore jerseys with Bryant's No. 8 on them.

Bryant said before the game that he wasn't nervous.

"No, not at all," he said. "I'm excited to finally get out on the floor and play with those guys. There'll be some kinks that will get worked out.

"It's the same old, same old."

Bryant has been working his way back since having knee surgery in Colorado, the reason he was in Eagle.

"My lungs are probably going to be burning," he said of his first game action since the three-time defending NBA champion Lakers were eliminated by San Antonio last May.

He lives in Orange County, so the game at the Pond seemed like a home game.

"I feel comfortable playing here. It's about five minutes from my house," Bryant said.

Coach Phil Jackson, talking to a large group of reporters before the game, said of the media attention surrounding Bryant, "We're prepared for a barrage. It think it will be an emotional, energetic game for him."

Close

Today's Top News		Top Sports News
+China, Australia agree on free trade study ( 2003-10-24) +Law puts onus on drivers to be alert ( 2003-10-24) +China capable of launching 10-ton space station module ( 2003-10-24) +Top legislator to visit DPRK next week ( 2003-10-24) +External influence complicates court ruling ( 2003-10-24)		+Lakers' Bryant plays in exhibition game ( 2003-10-24) +Utah Jazz beat the N.Y. Knicks, 77-60 ( 2003-10-24) +Timberwolves defeat Pacers, 90-73 ( 2003-10-24) +Nets defeat 76ers, 90-83 ( 2003-10-24) +NBA expands All-Star balloting program ( 2003-10-24)