Bryant Shrugs Off Harsh Comments

After a week in which he was offended by his NBA coach and defended by his high school coach, Kobe Bryant stood in the Tuesday afternoon sun and said he was unconcerned by any of it.

Wearing a gray sweat suit, a black stocking cap and a wry smile, Bryant said his left ankle was a little better but probably not ready for basketball, and that he would waste little time on the subject of Phil Jackson’s apparent betrayal.

“I’m not going to defend myself every time,� Bryant said, without rancor. “I’m getting tired of doing that. I’m going to let my play do the talking and hopefully everything else will fall by the wayside.�

Jackson recently divulged points of a private conversation with Bryant, Bryant being “bored� with the triangle offense among them. He also speculated Bryant “sabotaged� his high school games for the benefit of his statistics and playing time.

If he were disturbed by the accusation or dissatisfied with Jackson’s subsequent explanation to him, Bryant did not say so, and he did not wear it on his face.

It is unknown what impact, if any, the situation has had on the relationship between Bryant and his coach.

A person close to Bryant did say, “I don’t think Kobe’s pie in the sky is to go to the Washington Wizards and lead the league in scoring every year,� but added, “The bottom line is, does [Jackson] want the greatest wing player in the world to go somewhere else?�

Meantime, Bryant continues to receive physical therapy on his ailing ankles, the left one in particular. He said he doubted he would play tonight against the Sacramento Kings.

“Unless something drastic happens, unless there is a drastic change for the better, I doubt it,� said Bryant, who is experimenting with a new set of orthotics.

His goal is to be sound and in peak condition by the playoffs, three weeks away.

“I want to get it right so I can come back and harass people defensively,� he said. “I want to be able to dog people for 48 minutes.�

He said the emotional trauma of dealing with the injuries has washed away.

“I feel good,� he said. “I feel fresh. I’m excited to come back and play, to ride into the playoffs with some momentum and get things done.�

*

Ron Harper, who had arthroscopic knee surgery last week, said he would like to return in time to play in the Lakers’ last two regular-season games, then all of the playoffs. The organization believes that is very optimistic. . . . Shaquille O’Neal, on Monday night’s dismal performance in Phoenix: “I’m fine. It was just one of those nights for me.�

TONIGHT

vs. Sacramento

7:30, Fox Sports Net, TNT

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records--Lakers 47-24, Kings 47-22.

* Record vs. Kings--3-0.

* Update--The Kings had lost three of six games before defeating the New York Knicks Tuesday night, keeping the Lakers close in the Pacific Division and endangering their own visions of home-court playoff advantages. They’ll be hoping to avenge a sorry 84-72 loss to the Lakers on Sunday.

* Tickets--(800) 462-2849.