LOS ANGELES — Just a few hours before the start of the regular season Tuesday, all was not well in Lakerland.
Coach Phil Jackson fined Kobe Bryant an undisclosed amount for his highly critical comments of teammate Shaquille O'Neal, and the team met for 20 minutes to discuss a rift between two superstars that has escalated into a full-blown feud.
"There were no signs or indications that it would snowball the way it has in a matter of 36 hours, so we'll see what happens from here," teammate Derek Fisher said.
Bryant was not in uniform for the opener against the Dallas Mavericks after he said he didn't think his surgically repaired knee was strong enough to withstand the rigors of a 48-minute game. The Lakers had expected him to play until hearing otherwise Monday on ESPN.
The other thing hurting Bryant was his feelings, and it appears there's no easy way for the Lakers to soothe them.
Bryant castigated O'Neal during a telephone interview with ESPN, calling him "childlike," "unprofessional," "selfish," "fat" and "jealous." He also accused the 7-footer of overstating the severity of his foot injury last season when he reported to training camp overweight.
Bryant's comments came a day after O'Neal said the Lakers were "my team," adding that Bryant needed to be more of a team player — an observation based on two exhibition games.
At practice Monday, Jackson ordered the team not to discuss the dust-up with reporters. He fined Bryant for defying that order by talking to ESPN later that day.
"We felt we had an agreement yesterday and he didn't uphold that," Jackson said. "I think this is something we've asked our players to work out on their own and in private if they have personality conflicts."
The conflict between O'Neal and Bryant has been simmering throughout their seven seasons together, but their public potshots have never been as personal as the most recent ones.
"My thought is to say 'Kids, cut it out.' It's a guy thing. You say this, I say that. You say that, I say this and here we go," commissioner David Stern told reporters in San Antonio. "Someone has to stop it, because at bottom it distracts us from our league and the teams."
Adding another layer of tension for the team is the publicity brought by the sexual assault charges against Bryant.
Bryant's next hearing has been rescheduled for Nov. 13. Prosecutors requested the change. The hearing is expected to last only a few minutes, during which Bryant will be advised of his rights, the sexual assault charge and the possible penalty of four years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation. He also could enter a plea.