Phillipines expecting visit from Lakers’ Bryant as part of Nike promotion
Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers guard and MVP scorer in the NBA for last season, is expected to visit Manila, Philippines, Wednesday, Sept. 5 as part of his tour through Asia as part of the promotion of his new Nike shoes launch and as a way to reach out to young Fillipino youth who look up to the basketball star as a mentor and an inspiration to follow their dreams, according to an Aug. 29 article on China’s People Daily Web site. Bryant is scheduled to stay one day in the country and help children further develop their basketball skills by working with them one-on-one. Camps such as these are nothing new for Bryant, who has held some of his own mentoring youth camps in LA as part of a fundraiser for the charity he founded, and has also volunteered as part of Basketball Without Borders, an international athletic and educational mentoring program sponsored by the NBA and the FIBA.
“Kobe Bryant serves as a basketball icon, inspiration and role model to a lot of our young Fillipino athletes and we are proud to bring him closer to his fans,” Melissa Crucillo, marketing manager for Nike Phillippines, said in the article. ” In the Phillipines, basketball has been taking off over the past several years and the country has been seeing an influx of street ball games played in nearly every district, both urban and rural, according to the article. Local TV stations also regularly air NBA games on a consistent basis, making superstars such as Bryant and other team members some of the most popular, sought-after and followed celebrities for Fillipinos. Bryant - who will wrap up his Supernatural Asia Tour 2007 by also paying visits to Taipei, Hong Kong, Shanghei and Beijing - will also be getting back to the states to begin season training. Haven’t got season tickets yet for the Lakers? Get all the best deals on Lakers tickets at Stubhub.com.
Lakers’ Bryant helps team USA pull away from Mexico for 127-100 win
Team USA is on a sure winning streak after coming away victorious from its last seven FIBA Championship games. On Monday, the team - headed up by big-time NBA stars LeBron James, Chauncey Billups and the Lakers’ own Kobe Bryant - faced off with Mexico and beat them out 127-100 in a Las Vegas arena after coming back from a slow start in the first quarter, according to an article posted Aug. 28 on NBA.com.
Bryant, who helped his team reach the hard earned victory by contributing several points, admitted that the team seemed sluggish starting out but ended up coming through in the end. “I think everybody was just a little stiff tonight,” Bryant said. “We had a hard time getting loose, getting going. It took us a while to find a rhythm in our legs an donce we did we were able to make a pretty good run at it.” The lack of energy felt by Team USA on Monday can easily be attributed to the group’s stretch of three consecutive games over as many days and the intense effort they put behind pulling to victory over Brazil on Sunday.
Team USA has since moved on to dominate Puerto Rico, 117-78, and most recently Uruguay, 118-79, and will face undefeated Argentina tonight in the final game of the second round. If it is able to beat out Argentina tonight, Team USA will be off to this Saturday’s semi-finals, ranked as No. 1 seed. Make sure to stay tuned for all the FIBA Championship action and don’t forget to secure Lakers tickets for this season, which is right around the corner. Visit Stubhub.com for the best deals on available tickets.
Lakers sign Tennessee State free agent Larry Turner
The Los Angles Lakers signed Tennessee State free agent Larry Turner on Wednesday, Aug. 23. The 24-year-old center, who played for the Lakers Summer-Pro League team in Las Vegas and averaged 7.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, becomes the 16th team member for a 15-player season roster, according to an Aug. 23 article on HoopsWorld.com. The logical player to be benched, assuming that the Lakers do not participate in any further trade, would be Turner at this point, according to the article. Turner, the 6′11″, 240-pound Georgia native, will most likely be one of at least two to four more camp invitees that the Lakers will pick up before their intensive training begins at the beginning of October.
During his senior year at Tennessee State, the center averaged 5.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. As the Lakers approach their training camp, which are scheduled to begin ins September, Turner will have as equal an opportunity as the other 15 members to prove himself worthy of making the final roster. Until then, Lakers fans are keeping their fingers crossed that the team’s leading scorer returns this season and that Los Angeles will pick up some additional talent. Don’t have your season tickets yet? Check out Lakers tickets at Stubhub.com for all the best deals.
Team USA propelled to big victory over Brazil with help from Lakers’ Bryant
Team USA is off to a promising start, winning its first two games in the FIBA Americas tournament against Venezuela and most recently Brazil. Lakers’ point guard Kobe Bryant helped propel the team to a 112-76 victory Sunday night, helping US clinch the top spot within its group, according to an Aug. 26 Associated Press article on Topix.net. Bryant, who scored 20 points, was a big contributor alongside LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) both with 21 points. Brazil’s Leonardo Barbosa, a point guard for the NBA Phoenix Suns who has been averaging 27 points per game, was blocked repeatedly by Bryant, whose performance was key to Team USA’s win over Brazil - a team that gave the U.S. a run for its money last year during a championship exhibition game. “Brazil is one of the best international teams and they had a terrific game plan but our defense in the second and third quarters was at the highest level it’s been in this tournament,” Team USA coach Michael Krzyzewski said in the AP story.
Bryant, who aggressively defended against Barbosa’s shots and only allowing the guard four points during the first quarter, said his performance in the international realm should not be compared with what he does in NBA play. “My role here is different here than it is with the Lakers,’ Bryant said. ‘We have so many talented players and I don’t have to score a lot of points. I just try to do the best I can defensively.” As time slips by, the Lakers will be entering into pre-season training before fans know it. What better time than now to book your Lakers tickets for this season? Stop by Stubhub.com to get your season tickets today!
Bryant scores 14 points in opener for Team USA
Laker’s point guard Kobe Bryant once again pulled through in a season opener, this time not for his beloved Los Angeles team but on Team USA, scoring 14 points in the Aug. 24 match-up against Venezuela and helping the U.S. crush the international team, 112-69, according to an Aug. 24 story posted on Gulf-Times.com. Assisted by team members LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony and Michael Redd. This is Bryant’s first year participating in Team USA, who is competing amongst other international teams aiming for a berth into the 2008 Olympic Games. In the past, the U.S. has fallen behind other international teams, placing sixth in the 2002 World Championships and third both in 2004 and last year.
During Friday’s game, the U.S. started off strong, scoring the first nine points and led by double digits for 34 of the first forty minutes of play, according to Gulf-Times.com. U.S. team coach Mike Krzyzewski said he was pleased with the games outcome and how his team had handled the opposition. “I really thought it was a good performance for our first game,” said US coach Mike Krzyzewski. “It was really our first game together.” Soon, Bryant and the Lakers will gear up for their first home game and you shouldn’t miss out on any of the action. Check out Lakers’ tickets for this season at Stubhub.com.
Bryant excited to coach Bejing youth camp for Nike
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers’ point guard and leading scorer in the NBA last season, is gearing up to take another trip this year. Last month, Bryant was in Hollywood promoting the charity he founded and starting Sept. 5, he will launch a five-day tour through Asia as an NBA volunteer coach for a program founded by Nike, which helps teach youth basketball skills and hone their talents. Bryant, who earlier in August unveiled his newest creation - the Kobe II - as part of Nike’s autumn basketball footwear line, will make stops in Manilla, Taipei, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing as part of the tour and is expected to host a series of local training clinics, according to an Aug. 16 article on China’s PeopleDaily.com.
Bryant, who has participated in a myriad of work with youngsters - including coaching his own personal basketball camps in Los Angeles this past year - said he was anxious to lend a hand to another worthy cause. “I’m looking forward to returning to Asia to see the progress the kids have made since my visit last summer and to train those I didn’t meet,” the NBA point guard said. “I liked what I saw then and I’m planning to work the kids even harder this time to give them a better sense of my training regiment.” Soon after returning home, Bryant and the Lakers will be headed to training camp for another exciting season of NBA play. For Lakers’ tickets, visit Stubhub.com.
Former Lakers’ coach van Breda Kolff dies; led LA through two NBA Finals
Butch van Breda Kolff, 84, Los Angeles Lakers’ coach from 1967-69, died Wednesday, Aug. 22, at a Spokane Washington nursing home after a long illness. Van Breda Kolff, also well-known for coaching the Detroit Pistons and the Phoenix Suns, helped lead the Lakers to two NBA Final championships while the team - which included Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor - was under his guidance. The Lakers had records of 52-30 and 55-27 during the two seasons and lost both championship games to the Boston Celtics. Shortly after that time van Breda Kolff lost his position as head coach when Chamberlain took himself out of the seventh game in 1969 and the coach didn’t put him back in because his replacement was doing so well. The Lakers ended up losing the title game and van Breda Kolff was fired as a result.
The legendary coach and former New York Knicks team member (1946-1950) was also known for his presence at Princeton from 1962-67, helping shape basketball phenomenon Bill Bradley. Throughout his career, van Breda Kolff lead six teams to the NCAA Tournament at a time when tournament berths were scarce and won seven conference titles. As the Lakers gear up for their upcoming season, winning an NBA championship title are on players minds as they prepare for training camp. For Lakers’ tickets this season, visit Stubhub.com.
Final roster for Team USA announced, Lakers’ Bryant makes the cut
Kobe Bryant, the Lakers point guard, made the final cut for Team USA, the senior basketball squad that will compete with international teams in the FIBA Championship to earn its spot in the 2008 Olympics during August next year. Bryant was one of twelve who were selected from a group of 14 NBA players all vying to be part of the competing team, according to an article from the Milwaukee news source Todaytmj4.com. Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Pistons, LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Jason Kidd of the New Jersey Nets were also selected in the final cut. “It sounds trite to say it was a tough decision but in all reality it was that and more because all 14 were deserving of being on this roster and unfortunately we didn’t have that luxury, we had to go down to 12,” said USA Senior National Team managing director Jerry Colangelo. “The two that were not selected were really not selected to be with us the next couple of weeks and that’s the extent of it because they’re a part of our team and our team effort.” Kevin Durant and Nick Collison did not make the team.
Team USA is scheduled to play a series of games, starting with a match-up against Australia, from Aug. 22 through Sept. 2. Other teams the U.S. will play include Brazil, Spain, Argentina and New Zealand. Bryant, who said he couldn’t be more excited about the international play, will be thrown back into the NBA’s official season shortly after the FIBA Championships are through. NBA starts play at the end of October. For Lakers’ tickets, visit Stubhub.com.
Team USA, Bryant prepare for less strict rules in FIBA play
What usually constitutes a foul in NBA league play - a forearm to the midsection, handchecks or a moving screen - are often times overlooked in international play. That’s why Lakers’ guard Kobe Bryant, along with Team USA, participated in several scrimmages this week with FIBA referees, learning what they can and can not do as they gear up for games against Australia, Brazil, Spain and New Zealand, according to Ohio’s Mansfield News Journal. “I grew up watching the 80s NBA - watching the Bad Boys and Celtics, the Lakers when they played,” Bryant said in an interview with the News Journal. “Everything was physical. You could put your hands on guys and body them. That made the game extremely competitive, so I enjoy it.”
The “No Blood-No Foul” approach to international basketball is significantly different compared to the guidelines used by the NBA, which have become much more streamlined after efforts to “clean up” the game were headed up by former Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo. Bryant, who was the NBA’s leading scorer last season, said he looks forward to playing in the international arena. “You have more liberties,” Bryant said. “It’s upon us to take advantage of those. In the past, guys were telling me, when they were playing in these tournaments, they’re so used to playing hands-off. It’s an adjustment. We’re making a conscious effort to establish that here.”
For Lakers tickets to any of this season’s games - which start in October - visit Stubhub.com.
Lakers’ Walton, Perkins help youngsters in Brazil
While the Lakers gear up for October and their upcoming season, with the recent signings of point guards Derek Fisher and Coby Karl, many of the team’s players were in Brazil July 31-Aug. 3 helping youngsters make their basketball dreams come true.
As part of the Basketball Without Borders (BWB) program, founded in 2001 by the NBA, the International Basketball Federation and the Brazilian Basketball Federation, Lakers Forward Luke Walton and former NBA legend Sam Perkins joined more than 30 other NBA coaches and team members in Sao Paulo, Brazil, according to the Lakers official Web site. The professional athletes act as mentors for 50 youth, ages 19 and younger. This year’s four-day camp provided guidance for the teens – who were selected from more than 17 countries and territories across Latin America and the Caribbean – regarding basketball and life in general.
Since 2001, BWB has helped more than 1,000 young athletes from more than 100 countries strengthen their basketball skills with simultaneous participation in motivational and life-skills seminars that promote education, leadership, character development and healthy living. HIV and AIDS education is a major component of the seminars and a large emphasis is placed on embracing diversity.
Now back in LA, the team continues to gear up for what’s next. Want to get involved? Check out Los Angeles Lakers tickets at StubHub.com.