HOUSTON – Kobe Bryant has called this the second season of his career.
He and Shaquille O’Neal seem to have called a truce in their highly public spat, the dark cloud from a sexual assault charge in 2003 has settled, he’s getting along with Phil Jackson, who once called him “uncoachable,” and the sales of his No. 8 Lakers jersey are on the rise.
“I’ve had a chance to train and get my mind right and focus on the season,” said Bryant, who has averaged 35 points per game, the most since Michael Jordan’s 37.1 in 1986-87. “It’s like my rookie year all over again.”
Bryant, 27, will play in his eighth All-Star Game. The MVP of the 2002 All-Star Game received 2,271,631 fan votes, second to hometown and global favorite Yao Ming of the Rockets (2,342,738).
Plus, the buzz is still lingering from the 81 Bryant scored against the Raptors on Jan. 22, the most since Wilt Chamberlain tallied 100 points 44 years ago against the Knicks.
Bryant, 27, may not have much help on the Lakers, who are 26-26, he’ll have plenty tonight. He’ll be joined in the West’s starting lineup by Ming, Tim Duncan of the Spurs, Steve Nash of the Suns and the Rockets’ Tracy McGrady.
The East will open with Allen Iverson of the Sixers, LeBron James of the Cavs, O’Neal and Dwyane Wade of the Heat and the Nets’ Vince Carter, who replaces the injured Jermaine O’Neal. The East roster also includes four Pistons: Chauncey Billups, Richard “Rip” Hamilton, Ben Wallace and Rasheed Wallace.