Bryant's patience finally rewarded

0 Comments | USA TODAY, February, 2008 | by Scott Boeck

Kobe Bryant is all smiles as he heads to the Big Easy for All-Star Weekend.

The reigning All-Star MVP is playing for a contender -- the Los Angeles Lakers (34-17) were in the fifth playoff spot in the Western Conference going into Wednesday -- and is battling for his third consecutive scoring title, averaging 28 points to trail the Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James, who averages 30.1.

"It's going well," Bryant says of his team's first half. "We're playing extremely well."

Yes, all is good in Lakerland.

That was all but unthinkable eight months ago when Bryant demanded a trade and had pundits saying he had played his last NBA game as a Laker. But that is a distant memory.

Bryant, 29, has been inspired by his team's success and...