EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Kobe Bryant was fined Tuesday by the Los Angeles Lakers for critical comments he made of teammate Shaquille O'Neal, and was listed as doubtful for their season opener against Dallas.
Bryant's remarks Monday exposed the degree of rift between the two superstars. The amount of the fine wasn't disclosed.
The Lakers held a 20-minute team meeting in their locker room before their shootaround Tuesday morning. Teammates said Bryant, O'Neal, Karl Malone and coach Phil Jackson were the only ones who spoke.
Bryant played in two exhibition games last week. He was expected to be ready for the season opener Tuesday night, but surprised the organization by saying on TV a day earlier that he did not expect to play because of pain in his surgically-repaired knee.
Bryant and O'Neal didn't speak to reporters after the shootaround.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Copyright 2003, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
R_M_Light 