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But Erving also appreciates that so many of the modern stars -- Bryant, James, Kevin Durant -- recognize and speak freely about the path that Erving and others paved for them. "I don't think LeBron is generous with praise of others," Erving said. "Certainly, those first five or six years he wasn't, and now he is in the later years. That's all part of his growth and development where he could appreciate what transpired before. "I'm certainly appreciative of anything he has to say that compliments me or other people who have made great contributions to the game of basketball," he said. "And that is a significant part of his evolution." CBSSports.com

LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Julius Erving 

With a Spurs victory, forward Tim Duncan would match Kobe Bryant with five championships, and an argument could be made that Duncan is this generation’s best player. However, talking to Stephen A. Smith on ESPNRadio New York, Bryant said if the Spurs do win, he hopes Lakers management takes notice: “It doesn’t really matter. My goal is to win more then five, if he does win more than five it pushes our organization upstairs to be more driven to make the necessary experiences to continue for the next few years” Lakers Nation

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant 

Dan Gelston: Dr J says if he had to pick between LeBron and Kobe he picks ... Bryant. Says Kobe 1 of top 5 players of all time. Twitter @APgelston

Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Julius Erving 

While Howard reportedly has strong interest in the Houston Rockets and could be courted by Dallas, Atlanta, Golden State and Cleveland, Bryant is in no rush to be the first to pitch the All-Star center to come back to L.A. "For me, you kind of let him do his due diligence and then move in and talk to him and figure out if this is a place he wants to be," Bryant said. "We all want him here. But then that's when the selling begins [after Howard is courted by other teams]. You don't start the selling process right before he goes and does all this stuff. You want to get the last word. You want to have the final word and the closing argument. "I'll give him a little opening statement, but then I have to make sure I have the final word." ESPN.com

Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Free Agency, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard 

Stitches removed, out of a cast and with nearly six weeks of rehabilitation under his belt since surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon in his left leg, Kobe Bryant is still hoping for a return by the Los Angeles Lakers' 2013-14 season opener. "I hope so," Bryant said in a sit-down interview with ESPNLosAngeles.com on Monday. "That's the challenge. With the tendon, there's really only but so much you can do. There's a certain amount of time that they deem necessary for the tendon to heal where you don't overstretch it and now you never get that spring back. "So, you just have to be patient, let the tendon heal, and then when that moment comes when they say, 'OK, we can take off the regulator so to speak and now it's on you to train as hard as you can to get back to where you want to be,' that's going to be a good day." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant 

While Howard has reportedly strong interest in the Houston Rockets and could be courted by Dallas, Atlanta, Golden State and Cleveland, Bryant is in no rush to be the first to pitch the All-Star center to come back to L.A. "For me, you kind of let him do his due diligence and then move in and talk to him and figure out if this is a place he wants to be," Bryant said. "We all want him here. But then that's when the selling begins (after Howard is courted by other teams). You don't start the selling process right before he goes and does all this stuff. You want to get the last word. You want to have the final word and the closing argument. I'll give him a little opening statement, but then I have to make sure I have the final word." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard 

Should the Lakers resort to a Plan B if Howard walks, Bryant says he will make his voice part of the process. "It's gotten to a point at this stage in my career where those lines of communication are more open and we talk more frequently both with (general manager) Mitch (Kupchak) and (vice president of player personnel) Jimmy (Buss) and (vice president of business operations) Jeanie (Buss) to a certain extent," Bryant said. "Those lines of communication are open." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Mitch Kupchak, Owners, Jeanie Buss, Jim Buss 

Dave McMenamin: Kobe on not wanting to be the lonely old guy in the league after Kidd/Hill retired: "I got to make sure Derek (Fisher) keeps playing." Twitter @mcten

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Jason Kidd, Grant Hill 

Stitches removed, out of a cast and with nearly six weeks of rehabilitation under his belt since surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon in his left leg, Kobe Bryant is still hoping for a return by the Los Angeles Lakers' 2013-14 season opener. "I hope so," Bryant said in a sit-down interview with ESPNLosAngeles.com on Monday. "That's the challenge. With the tendon, there's really only but so much you can do. There's a certain amount of time that they deem necessary for the tendon to heal where you don't overstretch it and now you never get that spring back. So, you just have to be patient, let the tendon heal and then when that moment comes when they say, 'OK, we can take off the regulator so to speak and now it's on you to train as hard as you can to get back to where you want to be,' that's going to be a good day." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Injuries 

Dave McMenamin: Kobe had lunch with Pau today before Gasol heads off to Spain for the summer tomorrow Twitter @mcten

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol. 

Dave McMenamin: Kobe on if Coach K can convince him to come back for 2016 Olympics with him: “No, that’s not going to happen. I don’t see that happening.” Twitter @mcten

Kobe Bryant, USA Basketball, Team USA 

Kobe Bryant tried to get his court case vs. mother Pamela moved out of New Jersey - judge didn't go for it Instead, the trial will begin on June 17 in a Camden courtroom. Kobe has a lawsuit filed in California to block the auction - saying his mother doesn't have ownership of his items she's gotten a $450k advance on to sell via auction. Sulia

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law 

Kobe Bryant's court battle with his mother, Pamela Bryant, will take him to New Jersey, according to a ruling by U.S. District Judge Renee Bumb. The trial will begin June 17 in a Camden courtroom. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law 

Kobe Bryant took to the Alter G treadmill as he works to rehabilitate his repaired left Achilles' tendon. On Friday, Bryant tweeted a picture from his off-season workout. Bryant recently shed his walking boot, getting custom-made Nike shoes to help protect his Achilles. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Injuries 

Kobe Bryant lost a round Friday in the ongoing court fight over the possible sale of the basketball star’s memorabilia. A federal judge in Friday rejected Bryant’s request to dismiss a lawsuit filed against the athlete by Goldin Auctions of West Berlin. U.S. District Judge Renee Bumb also declined to move the trial to Bryant’s home state of California. Bumb said the trial will begin in her Camden courtroom on June 17, when she is to give the reasons for Friday’s ruling. Courier-Post

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law 

Kobe Bryant will finally lose the walking boot, almost seven weeks after surgery to repair his torn left Achilles' tendon. Bryant was injured on April 12 in a win over the Golden State Warriors. He had surgery the following day. The Lakers' original prognosis for Bryant's recovery was at least six to nine months. If he's ready to play on the early end of that timeline, Bryant might make the season opener in late October. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Injuries 

Kobe Bryant will finally lose the walking boot, almost seven weeks after surgery to repair his torn left Achilles' tendon. Bryant was injured on April 12 in a win over the Golden State Warriors. He had surgery the following day. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Injuries 

Kobe Bryant: Boot comes off today. Will be in a "medical mamba" shoe. I still need a lil heel lift for the achillies #progress #bearNtrouble Twitter @kobebryant

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Injuries 

Kobe Bryant has swam with sharks, delivered in pressure situations and once told Michael Jordan "I can kick your ass one on one" to his face. So, it may be shocking to hear "sensitive" and Kobe in the same sentence, but that's the word Phil Jackson used when talking about how The Black Mamba handled criticism in an interview earlier today with ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd. “He’s very sensitive,” Jackson said Wednesday to ESPN Radio’s Colin Cowherd. “I had to be really careful in criticizing him. I learned immediately as I started to deal with him as a young man how sensitive he was in particular if it was done in a group setting. My criticism was best done if it was in my office or alone.” complex.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson 

D’Antoni also discussed the future for Bryant, who on Thursday was named to his 11th All-NBA first team and is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon suffered in April. “We’ll just see, see how the summer plays out, but Kobe will be fine and he’ll be back 100 percent,” D’Antoni said. ZagsBlog.com

Kobe Bryant, Mike D'Antoni, Injuries