Lakers' Bryant Assures He Still Has Game

LOS ANGELES, June 7 -- Kobe Bryant will complete his 13th NBA season once the Finals end, turn 31 this August and has already logged more miles at this stage in his career than Michael Jordan. But in his mind, the 2007-08 league most valuable player still has several more years left in him to play at an elite level.

"No, I feel like I'm a much better player right now than I was last year," Bryant said when asked whether he has noticed any deteriorating skills. "I just feel like I've improved a lot. I think there was areas of my game that I needed to work on, and I worked on those, and I think I'm better because of it."

Los Angeles Lakers Coach Phil Jackson, who helped Jordan win his sixth NBA title in 1998 at age 35, said Bryant has several more years remaining as a dominant player, even though most shooting guards begin to decline at age 32.

"I can see him playing to a 36-, 37-year age," Jackson said. "I think that Kobe is going to play it out for as long as he can. I think he's just a player that is going to find a way regardless. When his skill level deteriorates, he's going to find a level to play at that his athleticism is going to allow. I think all players that remain physically competent, or as close to 90 percent of their physical talent as they get old get better, they just get better."

Bryant said he couldn't speculate on how much longer he plans to play. "I just love the game so much still. I just feel like there's still so much out there for me to improve on and work on," Bryant said. "My body feels great. God willing, I stay healthy, I'll just keep going."

Howard Meets Russell

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard had the opportunity to meet with Hall of Fame center Bill Russell before Game 1 of the NBA Finals. "Bill Russell, he's one of the few big men that I've always looked up to -- him and Wilt [Chamberlain] -- and they were the only two big men that I always wanted to meet besides Patrick [Ewing], and I never had a chance to meet Wilt," Howard said. "[Russell] was always about team first, and that's one of the -- basically I'm the same way. My team, that's the only thing that matters to me."

The Magic eliminated Russell's former team, the defending champion Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals. "I told him if we wanted to win the championship you've got to beat the team that won it last year. He started laughing and joking, because he knows how tough the Celtics are. We want to be champions. We believe that we have a chance to win the championship. I just told him we've got to go through the Celtics to win the championship."

No Longer Grumpy?

Bryant was asked whether there was any enjoyment under the scowl he has worn since the conclusion of the Western Conference finals. He said that despite his gruff demeanor, he is enjoying himself. "Just because you're focused on something doesn't mean you don't enjoy something," Bryant said. "That's part of the fun -- just figuring out how to focus and how to get ready to play game after game. You can still do your job and still have a good time."

After Game 1, Bryant said his angry face had his two daughters, Natalia and Gianna, calling him "Grumpy" from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Asked if he changed from "Grumpy" to "Happy," Bryant said, "No, I'm always happy. I'm always happy. I was just happy my kid didn't call me Dopey." . . .

With one more championship, Jackson will pass Red Auerbach for the all-time record with 10. He revealed that Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak, a member of USA Basketball's advisory council, was once asked him to coach the U.S. Olympic team, but he declined.

"It's something I never desired to do," Jackson said. "I opted out at that time. I was asked by the Canadians if I'd like to coach their Olympic team. Steve Nash wasn't a mature enough player yet, so I had to turn that one down." . . .

The NBA announced on Sunday that the 2011 All-Star Game would be held at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Staples Center, which opened in 1999, also hosted the 2004 All-Star Game.

Los Angeles also hosted the All-Star Game in 1963, 1972 and 1983.