LAKERS COMMENT REGARDING KOBE BRYANT MEDIA COMMENTS

May 30th, 2007

EL SEGUNDO – In response to inquiries regarding Kobe Bryant’s comments in the media today requesting a trade, Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss has issued the following statement:

“We are aware of the media reports. However, Kobe has not told us directly that he wants to be traded. We have made it very clear that we are building our team around Kobe and that we intend for him to be a Laker his entire career. We will speak directly to Kobe and until we do that, we will not comment publicly about this.”