Kobe now on Bynum's team

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The compliments are piling up, a development that hasn't gone unnoticed by Los Angeles Lakers big man Andrew Bynum.

Kobe Bryant, who once ranted about the Lakers' unwillingness to trade Bynum for Jason Kidd, seemingly has become Bynum's biggest supporter on the team.

Bryant has talked about how Bynum worked hard to improve, and how the young center always is in the gym.

"It's all pretty cool for him to do that because I definitely am working," Bynum said. "Although I'm not working here because they won't let my trainer in."

Bynum said they go to Loyola Marymount University or someplace else to work on his conditioning, which was a problem last season. Bynum said he works out apart from the Lakers three or four days week, and even on practice days.

"I haven't lost any weight yet. I'm still 280," said the 7-footer, only 20 but now in his third season with the Lakers. "I still feel like I'm in shape, so it's working out."

Bynum is averaging 26.1 minutes, almost five more than last season. He's averaging almost a double-double, with 10.9 points and 9.7 rebounds, along with 2.0 blocks and 1.5 assists. In Sunday night's 123-113 win over Golden State, Bynum was a force with a season-high 20 points (on 9-of-14 shooting) to go along with11 rebounds, five blocked shots and three assists in 28 minutes. Bynum is also improving defensively with 15 blocks in his last three games.

"Kobe recognizes the uniqueness of Andrew, what he can bring to the table for a basketball team," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "And he knows that if we're going to win, we have to have defensively a stopper like that, and also the advantage of having a guy that size to complete things at the basket."

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)