Kobe Bryant, a superstar symbol of the National Basketball Association just one year ago, has become nearly invisible in promotional hype for the league's 58th season, which begins Tuesday.

With Bryant's image on television newscasts worldwide over charges of sexual assault against him in Colorado, perhaps no one needs to be reminded that the 2004 crown might be influenced more by a courtroom than a basketball court.

Bryant and overwhelming center Shaquille O'Neal led the Los Angeles Lakers (news) to three NBA titles in a row until the San Antonio Spurs (news) snapped the streak, ousting the Lakers in the playoffs on the way to last season's NBA title.

With the off-season acquisition of veteran free agents Karl Malone and Gary Payton and O'Neal fit and healthy, the Lakers figure to be formidable once more under nine-time NBA champion coach Phil Jackson.

Bryant could be an imposing force. But with a trial unlikely to come before next May's NBA playoffs and protests possible as he travels around the NBA, how well Bryant will play -- a critical factor for the Lakers -- is anyone's guess.

"Were pleased with the way things are going, even with all the adversity were surrounded by," Jackson said. "Karl Malone and Gary Payton are fitting in very well with the personnel and the knowledge of what were trying to do."

Malone, 40, and Payton, 35, each lack an NBA title but have the talent to lift the Lakers back atop a league that will see more than 100 players on new clubs, 11 teams with new coaches and nearly 80 non-US players among 348 total.

NBA Most Valuable Player Tim Duncan will try to lead the Spurs to another title with Slovenian Rasho Nesterovic replacing retired center David Robinson and Argentina's Manu Ginobili joining France's Tony Parker in the backcourt.

"I want Rasho to just be himself. He's not going to be David Robinson. Nobody is going to do that," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "But offensively, he's somebody who I think will help us very quickly. he's understands the game.

"he's going to be very important to us as the season moves along. He will have to play well for us to have an opportunity to do what we did last year."

Sacramento should challenge for the Western Conference crown once more, but injured Chris Webber figures to miss the first month of the season. Serbian stars Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic will have more pressure until his return.

"We wont have Chris Webber the first month," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "That's probably our biggest concern. We want to be sure he's 100 percent when he comes back and he's ready. When he gets back we will be a pretty good team."

Dallas made trades for versatile Antoine Walker from Boston and Antwan Jamison from Golden State to flank German big man Dirk Nowitzki. Michael Finley and Steve Nash give the Maverick backcourt enough power to contend for a crown.

"We have a bunch of new players that will take a little while to get comfortable with the offense," Dallas coach Don Nelson said. "All in all we like our team and I think were going to have a very good team."

Minnesota upgraded around Kevin Garnett, who signed a long-term deal after the Timberwolves added center Michael Olowokandi and star guards Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell.

"All the pieces are here," Cassell said. "This is a team that can go all the way."

Chinese 7-foot-6 center Yao Ming and guard Steve Francis will try to lift Houston, which has not reached the playoffs in four years, while young stars Stephon Marbury, Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire will lead rising Phoenix.

New Jersey, led by Jason Kidd and new center Alonzo Mourning, figure to be the class of the Eastern Conference for the third year in a row, but not if Mourning, 33, has a flare-up of a kidney disease that kept him out last season.

"He has added a piece to us getting better," Kidd said. "He has picked up the offense really well. He's enjoying himself with the Nets. He's like a kid in a candy store."

Nine Eastern Conference coaches have been replaced, meaning new looks for traditional contenders.

Larry Brown left Philadelphia for Detroit, where 7-foot rookie forward Darko Milicic joins NBA rebound king Ben Wallace.

Larry Bird named pal Rick Carlisle, Detroit's ex-coach, to guide Indiana, but forwards Jermaine O'Neal and Ron Artest liked fired Isiah Thomas (news - web sites).

Allen Iverson makes Philadelphia a threat and Tracy McGrady sparks Orlando, while high school prodigy LeBron James will try to lift Cleveland from the NBA cellar and Vince Carter tries to bounce back from injuries to lead Toronto.

"Anybody in Vince's situation would probably feel that they needed have a big year," Raptors coach Kevin O'Neill said. "He was injured. He appears to be very healthy now. Vince is a guy that does want to have a big year."

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