Kobe Signs Contract To Remain With Lakers
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., July 15 -- The Los Angeles Lakers have signed free agent guard Kobe Bryant to a contract, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak. Per team policy terms of the contract were not released.
Bryant, who has been a free agent since July 1, opted out of the final year of his previous contract at the conclusion of the 2003-04 season.
"Re-signing Kobe was the top priority for our team going into this off-season, so this obviously is a very happy day for the Lakers and our fans," said Kupchak. "We feel Kobe is the best all-around player in the NBA, and at age 25, still not even in his prime, so signing him to this contract gives us a solid foundation as we work to rebuild our roster and remain a premier team for years to come."
Last season, Bryant averaged 24.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game while ranking among league leaders in points (4th/24.0), free throw percentage (18th/.852) and minutes per game (23rd/37.6). Named a starter in the 53rd NBA All-Star game after receiving the second most votes in the Western Conference, Bryant was also selected All-NBA First Team and earned All-NBA Defensive First Team honors as well.
In the final game of the regular season at Portland, Bryant tallied 37 points including a pair of three-pointers, the first sending the game into overtime, the second coming with no time remaining in double-overtime to clinch the victory as well as the Pacific Division Title.
In addition to recording his ninth career triple-double 2/28/04 at Washington with 29 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, Bryant recorded the 30th 40-plus point game of his career 4/13/04 vs. Golden State. In that contest, Bryant tied a franchise record with 10 free-throws in the final quarter against the Warriors.
Among his accolades, Bryant has earned All-NBA honors in each of the last six seasons (First Team in 2002, 2003 and 2004; Second Team in 2000 and 2001; Third Team in 1999) as well as being named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Team in each of the past five seasons (First Team in 2000, 2003 and 2004; Second Team in 2001 and 2002). A starter in each of the last six All-Star Games, Bryant earned MVP honors at the 2002 contest in his hometown of Philadelphia. Named Western Conference Player of the Month on three occasions while earning Western Conference Player of the Week honors nine times, Bryant is also a two-time winner of NBA Player of the Week honors and has one NBA Player of the Month award for December of 2000.
During the 2002-03 campaign, Bryant established a new NBA record with 12 three-pointers in a single game 1/7/03 vs. Seattle while tying an NBA record later that season with eight three-point field goals in a single half 3/28/03 vs. Washington. During the same season, he became only the third player in NBA history to average 40 or more points in a month with a 40.6 ppg average for the month of February.
Originally acquired by the Lakers from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Vlade Divac on July 11, 1996 after being selected by the Hornets with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, Bryant is the youngest player in NBA history to reach the 10,000-point plateau and ranks among Lakers franchise leaders in points (9th/12,215), field goals made (10th/4,317), three point field goals made (3rd/488), free throws made (5th/3,093) and assists (10th/2,390).
In eight seasons with the Lakers, Bryant has posted career averages of 21.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 561 games.
Veteran center began his NBA career in L.A.
Lakers Sign Vlade Divac
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., July 20 -- The Los Angeles Lakers have signed center Vlade Divac, it was announced today. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released.
Divac, a 15-year NBA veteran, began his career with the Lakers when Los Angeles selected him in the first round (26th overall) of the 1989 NBA Draft. In his first seven NBA seasons with the Lakers, Divac averaged 12.5 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 520 games. In 51 postseason games with Los Angeles, he increased his scoring average to 12.8 points while pulling down 7.0 rebounds per game.
Named to the 1989-90 NBA All-Rookie First Team, Divac helped the Lakers reach the 1991 NBA Finals in his second season and increased his scoring average in each of his first six seasons, recording a career-best 16.0 points per game during the 1994-95 campaign.
Named to the 2001 Western Conference All-Star team as a member of the Sacramento Kings, Divac has led all NBA centers in assists per game in six of the last nine seasons, including a career-best 5.3 assists per game during the 2003-04 season (20th in the NBA).
In addition, Divac is one of only three players in NBA history (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon) to amass 13,000 points (13,364), 9,000 rebounds (9,294), 3,000 assists (3,522) and 1,500 blocked shots (1,630).
A member of the 1988 and 1996 Olympic silver medal-winning Yugoslavian National Teams, the 7'1" center out of Serbia has averaged 11.9 points, 8.3 rebounds 3.1 assists and 1.46 blocks in 1,119 career games.
Lakers re-sign F Medvedenko
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. Aug 3 -- The Lakers have signed Slava Medvedenko, general manager Mitch Kupchak announced. Contract terms were not disclosed.
"We're very pleased to have signed Slava," Kupchak said. "He is a young and talented player and every year he has made improvements to his game. He's a player that should continue to improve and we expect him to be a solid contributor for years to come."
Medvedenko, a 6-10 forward was originally signed by the Lakers as a free agent prior to the 2000-01 season and was a member of the Lakers 2001 and 2002 NBA Championship teams.
Last season, Medvedenko averaged career-highs in points (8.3) and rebounds (5.0) while helping the Lakers advance to the NBA Finals.
Lakers Sign First and Second-Round Draft Choice
EL SEGUNDO, Calif, Aug 4 -- The Los Angeles Lakers announced Saturday they have signed first-round draft choice guard Sasha Vujacic and 2nd rounder Marcus Douthit. The Lakers selected Vujacic with the twenty-seventh overall pick in the first round of the 2004 NBA Draft while Douthit was picked in the second round. Per team policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“We are excited to sign Sasha and Slink (Marcus’ nickname) and have them join our summer league team,” said Mitch Kupchak, general manager of the Lakers. “This will be a good opportunity to expose both to our basketball philosophy.
“We look forward to this being the first step to many positive contributions from these two young players for our organization.”
”Vujacic, a combo guard drawn comparisons to Brent Barry , will give us lift in offense. “He’s a very good shooter with goop passing skill. He still learning the point guard position but is said to have lead guard instincts.”
“Douthit on the other hand will help us more in defensive end, Known for his shotblocking ability. He’s long and atletic big man who can run the floor. He didn’t get many chances to show offensive skills in college but may find that opportunity in our organization.”