Category: Los Angeles Lakers Blog

Metta World Peace has taken a leadership role in fostering mental health awareness.

Starting Monday, World Peace and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health will partner in May for Mental Health Awareness Month.

World Peace’s “Talk It Out” campaign will be on display on Metropolitan Transportation Authority shelters, depots, buses and trains in both English and Spanish.

“It’s unnecessary stress if you’re holding things in,” World Peace said.

— Reported by Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times (Blog)

A South Jersey sports-collectibles firm is at the center of a family fight between basketball star Kobe Bryant and his mother.

Goldin Auctions of West Berlin wants to sell more than 100 items from the Los Angeles Lakers’ pro career and his days as a high school player in suburban Philadelphia. The keepsakes – including uniforms, rings and trophies – would be offered on consignment for Pamela Bryant, the athlete’s mother.

But Kobe Bryant is trying to block the planned June auction, insisting he owns the memorabilia. The dispute moved to a federal court in Camden Thursday, when an attorney for the auction house requested a court order to allow the sale.

The filing noted Goldin Auctions already has paid a $450,000 advance to Pamela Bryant, who wanted to buy a new home in Nevada.

If a judge approves the sale, bidders could compete for shorts, jerseys, jackets and varsity letters that Bryant wore at Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pa. They could vie for NBA All-Star and Championship rings, a 1996 Gatorade National Player award and a 1992 Sonny Hill League Future Stars Champion Trophy.

— Reported by the Courier-Post

Dwight Howard has plenty on his mind beyond his pending free agency.

He also plans to see a doctor Wednesday to check up on the torn labrum in his right shoulder.

“Hopefully I don’t have to have surgery,” Howard said. “But whatever the case may be, I’m going to do whatever I can to get myself right this offseason.”

Howard didn’t have such a luxury last year. He remained sidelined last summer after having back surgery in April.

— Reported by Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News Blog

Los Angeles Lakers forward Antawn Jamison underwent successful surgery on his right wrist Tuesday morning.

“(The surgery) went well,” a source close to the 15-year veteran told ESPNLosAngeles.com. “No complications.”

Jamison suffered a slight tear in his right wrist during the Lakers’ 103-100 loss to the Washington Wizards on March 23.

Jamison played with the injury for the remainder of the season, appearing in the Lakers’ final 12 regular-season games and four playoff contests.

— Reported by Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles

Whenever an NBA team doesn’t win a championship, Steve Nash believes it’s inevitable changes will happen in the offseason. But the Lakers guard stated in strong terms that he hopes that doesn’t involve Dwight Howard.

“I’m very hopeful that Dwight will be back,” Nash said. “I think this is the place for him. He’s in the prime of his career. He’s got his best years ahead of him. He can play for one of the greatest franchises in sports and an amazing city. This has got to be the place for him and I’m hopeful that he sees it that way.”

Howard hasn’t publicly stated his intentions. But returning to the Lakers seems a no brainer for various reasons. Howard would earn $117.9 million with a five-year deal if he signed with the Lakers. He would earn $87.9 million over four years if he went somewhere else.

— Reported by Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News (Blog)

Although he reiterated time and again he choice to remain a Laker, Metta World Peace stayed non-committal on whether he will exercise his $7.7 million player option to return next season.

“It’s really not important to me right now,” World Peace said. “What’s important is next year coming back and starting off the right way and building some consistency early. That’s the only thing on my mind right now. Not contracts or anything like that.”

World Peace isn’t necessarily sending out conflicting messages. Marc Cornstein, World Peace’s agent, told this newspaper that he could opt out in hopes of seeking a long-term extension. Either decision carries a certain amount of risk. Should World Peace exercise his player option, the Lakers could waive him using the one-time amnesty provision in hopes of clearing space within their current $100 million payroll. Should World Peace opt out, there’s a chance the Lakers wouldn’t resign him for the same reason.

— Reported by Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News (Blog)

It’s up for debate who finally asked Gasol to start playing again like the guy who won those championships. Bryant said he told Gasol to “go to the block and not move.” Eventually, D’Antoni accepted it, either out of necessity because so many players were injured for L.A. or not.

“He’s arguably, we could talk best center in the league,” D’Antoni said of Gasol after Game 4. “Skill wise, for sure.”

And Gasol is sure that he doesn’t want to see those skills go to waste next season, whether he’s in L.A. or not.

“I’d like to [be featured again], I really do,” Gasol said. “Because it’s frustrating for me for most of the year to be in a position where I can’t provide everything that I can as a player. So, you try to do what it takes and then do what you’re asked for, but it’s just difficult.” “It was difficult for me, so, it’s something that I’m also aware I’m getting older and at some point my role will have to adjust,” he said. “But if I’m healthy, I know I can do so much and hopefully it will be here. But, who knows?

“I definitely want to be in a situation where I can maximize my abilities and help the team the most that I can, and devote completely to it.”

— Reported by Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles