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Shaquille O'Neal was not in uniform because of a foot injury and Kobe Bryant was not with the team as the Los Angeles Lakers played their first exhibition game on the U.S. mainland Tuesday night.
Bryant, due in court Wednesday in Eagle, Colo., for a preliminary hearing in his sexual assault case, participated in the team's morning shootaround by riding a stationary bicycle.
He did not make
the two-hour bus ride south from Los Angeles with the rest of the team for the
game against Phoenix.
``Didn't want him here. If he's not going to play in the ballgame, ultimately
it's very difficult for the fans,'' coach Phil Jackson said. ``These people
really want to see Kobe play and I know he'd be a distraction.'' Ticketmaster
Bryant continues to recover from offseason knee surgery, and Jackson hinted that he might not be available to play Thursday night against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Lakers' first preseason game at the Staples Center.
As for O'Neal, he wasn't making any short-term or long-term predictions about his availability as he continues to be bothered by a sore left heel he injured while landing after a dunk approximately one week before he arrived in Honolulu for training camp. Ticketmaster
``It's still a little nagging, and I want the nagging to go away,'' O'Neal said. ``I want to be right for Derek (Fisher), Karl (Malone) and Gary (Payton).''
O'Neal underwent an MRI on Monday which revealed a bruise.