Jackson takes Bryant to task

Three days before the start of a season prefaced by a summer of discontent and a fall of uncertainty for Kobe Bryant, the Lakers guard is still not fully committed to the team in the opinion of his coach, Phil Jackson.

“Obviously he hasn’t thrown his heart and soul into performing on the floor,” Jackson said after practice Saturday at the team’s El Segundo training facility. “That hurts me a little bit. . . . He was going to work at this thing and [would] put his full being into this. Right now, he’s having a hard time doing that.”

Asked specifically what Bryant is struggling with, Jackson replied, “Mentally getting himself here and playing hard. . . . Is that a surprise to you guys? I mean I’m not breaking new news.”

It came as news to Bryant, who responded to Jackson’s remarks by denying any lack of commitment on his part.

“That [should be] the least of his concerns or anybody’s concerns,” Bryant said. “You don’t have to worry about that. . . . I’m ready to play. Period. You don’t have to worry about me.”

Bryant has sent tremors of concern through the organization since the end of last season. His frustration over a quick first-round exit from the postseason by the Lakers caused Bryant to criticize the front office, demand a trade, back off from that demand, then criticize a decision not to trade center Andrew Bynum.

Peace, tentative as it was, seemed to have settled on the Lakers as they headed to Hawaii for the start of training camp. But when owner Jerry Buss told reporters he has explored the feasibility of satisfying Bryant’s trade wish and will continue to do so, Bryant’s acceptance of a future with the team was again called into question.

In between an absence from practice to treat tendinitis of the knee -- which was highlighted by a erroneous report that he had cleared out his locker -- and his current absence because of a sprained right wrist, Bryant has struggled on the court in exhibition play. He sat out Friday’s preseason finale because of the injured wrist, but before that had shot 33% in six exhibition games and had 30 turnovers and 24 assists.

“I experimented with different things. I have a different role this year,” said Bryant, who has been asked by Jackson to be more of a facilitator in the offense. “It’s not something where people should be concerned that I’m going to come out and play like [bleep]. Let’s not push the panic button over a couple of preseason games.”

Could Jackson alleviate the situation by simply telling Bryant that nothing has changed and it’s time to play basketball?

“Those aren’t the words Dr. Buss spoke,” said Jackson, who conceded it’s unlikely Buss’ openness to trade offers will result in a deal in the near future. “Chances are very slim. Not too many people come out and deal honorably at fire-sale time. And this is not fire-sale time.”

The Lakers have talked trade with some teams but nothing of substance has come of it.

Is Jackson’s voice the one Bryant still responds to the most within the organization?

“I think in a certain manner, yes,” Jackson said, “but I’ve been working on this since the day the whole issue started. . . . Here we are going on five months. . . . We’re happy the season is starting. . . . If he can reorient himself, or we resolve [everything], then we are the team we were last year to start the season. And then going forward from there, there’s no reason why we can’t better than the team we were the first half of last season.

“I think the competitiveness of the season and the here-we-are-let’s-go kind of thing is all great stuff. There’s nothing but a positive aspect in this regard.

“This is Kobe’s legacy, the Lakers. This is where he’s grown up and gotten married and had kids and the whole bit. We are still devoted to seeing that will, hopefully, still be a part of what he is.”

And how is the team coping with the Kobe roller-coaster?

“I think they are a little bit confused,” Jackson said. “I think they are enjoying their time together right now. I think they had a good time last night [a 101-97 victory over the Sacramento Kings] and it was good for them. But I think there’s a certain sense of how does this all fit all together, which is natural because they haven’t seen a situation like this before.”

Jackson himself has an unresolved situation, having not signed a contract extension that would carry him beyond this season. Could he coach a Lakers team that no longer included Bryant?

“Yep,” Jackson said. “That’s not part of my job description.”

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Although Bryant didn’t practice Saturday because of the wrist injury, he is expected to play in Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center against the Houston Rockets.

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steve.springer@latimes.com