Kobe appreciates Philly, and vice versa (sort of)

KOBE BRYANT'S was the second name called during the Lakers' starting lineups last night at the Wells Fargo Center, and when the crowd was informed that Bryant attended Lower Merion High School, the only fan base for whom that information is unequivocally meaningful greeted Bryant with a mixture of applause and jeers.

Perhaps the cheers came from Lakers fans sprinkled throughout the sold-out arena, and the boos were likely fans who still haven't forgiven Bryant for his cold-blooded proclamation during the 2001 NBA Finals. But the mixed reception might have signaled something else: that Bryant's hometown is beginning to appreciate Bryant similarly to the way Bryant appreciates Philadelphia.

"It has a great deal of significance, I think more now, than when I was 21 or 22, because I don't know how many more times I'll be playing in front of Philadelphia fans at this stage of my career," Bryant said yesterday morning, of his return to his hometown.

And when Bryant scored his 24th point last night to surpass Shaquille O'Neal for fifth place on the NBA's all-time scoring list, the ovation for the unannounced achievement came from both Lakers fans and a scattering of Sixers fans alike. Bryant called the crowd's response to him "pretty cool" and expressed appreciation.

Bryant gave those fans a show - especially in the first half, when his 24 points on 8-for-14 shooting fit the Hall of Fame credentials he's accumulated since graduating from Lower Merion 16 years ago. The Sixers started to trap Bryant in the second half, keeping him to 2-for-12 after the break to help cement a 95-90 win.

Speaking of the milestone, he said: "Yes [it's more significant], because of our history. The battles that we've been in, the playoff battles and kind of the duo that we've been able to form and the consecutive championships makes it a little bit more significant."

Despite his ascension in the record books, Bryant considered it bittersweet that the achievement came in a loss. Bryant said that where he stands on the scoring list pales in comparision with trying to secure a sixth NBA championship. Sixers coach Doug Collins, who played with Bryant's father, Joe, called the Lakers star "all about winning, championships, gold medals" and added that he wished his players could be around a player such as Bryant on a daily basis.

Bryant was informed by a reporter who listened to sports-talk radio on the way to yesterday's shootaround that all Bryant needed to do to reclaim the affection of Philadelphia fans is apologize for 2001, when he famously said he was going to "cut their hearts out" before Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Bryant showed a wide grin, but more than 10 years later, he still wouldn't apologize.

"The apology, I'm not going to apologize for coming and saying, 'I'm going to kick some [butt],' " Bryant said. "Just not going to do it. But I certainly embrace the city and love everything that it's taught me."

That intensity has become a trademark of Bryant, and it's why he's often compared to Michael Jordan. Collins, who coached Jordan twice in his career, volunteered the comparison yesterday. Collins visited the U.S. national team's practice before the 2008 Olympics, closed his eyes and listened to the banter on the court. Collins heard Bryant, but he said it was like hearing Jordan.

"The things that he was saying, all the chatter . . . I just smiled," Collins recalled. "It's interesting how those separate themselves from others. I've seen him do things that you just shake your head at, marvel at. He's an amazing player. I admire him."

When Bryant was informed of the compliment, he joked it only means he and Jordan are jerks.

"If you hear some of the stuff I was saying, I assure you some of the stuff wasn't complimentary," Bryant said.

Bryant is now 33, with 15 years of NBA experience and nearly 50,000 minutes of regular season and playoff games combined. The latest 44 came in Philadelphia, where Bryant's made history throughout his career. He won the NBA Finals here, won the All-Star MVP here and, last night, eclipsed O'Neal's mark. But when asked what Philadelphia memory is the tops in his mind, he reverted to the era announced when he took the court: his time at Lower Merion.

"Before all the hoopla," he said. "That's the thing that always sticks out to me. Just being Kobe."