Good mojo
The Lakers started a bit better than expected -- 9-6 -- as their young 7-footer, Bynum, began delivering on the potential that Kupchak saw when he drafted him 10th in 2005. Bynum was improving nightly until he suffered a season-ending knee injury on January 13, a setback that dimmed the Lakers' hopes of contending until, oh, the Gasol trade.

Bryant knew from watching Gasol on the Spanish national team that the 7-footer would be an ideal fit in the Lakers' triangle offense, which rewards good passing and intelligent play. Gasol, admittedly uninspired during his final year in Memphis, clicked immediately with the Lakers and they won 22 of the first 27 games in which he played. (In one of the losses, Gasol played only 2:33 before spraining an ankle.)

The more the team has won, the tighter it has become. (Bryant hasn't turned all warm and fuzzy, though -- when Luke Walton fumbled the ball in a key possession against the Jazz, Kobe's stare was as icy as it was immediate.) The Lakers often dine together at home and on the road. The entire team showed up to support Bryant at his MVP press conference. As much as they have meshed, though, to hear Bryant tell Gasol, "I love you, man," at the press conference seemed awkward in a Did he really mean that? way.

On the court, though, there is no more of the kind of awkwardness that used to come when Bryant had the ball and refused to give it up. His regular-season scoring was down 3.3 points from last season's 31.6 average, and he was OK with that. Lamar Odom deserves credit for bringing the team together during the preseason, but there's another reason for Bryant's newfound trust in his team. "They're better teammates," says Sam Cassell, who spent much of his season on L.A.'s other team before signing with the Celtics.

The right image
The good vibes from all the winning is helping Bryant regain his footing as one of the league's most marketable stars. Instead of coming across as selfish and spoiled, he is becoming an elder statesman, still ubercompetitive but caring as well. He's no longer so defensive with the media. He laughed and joked throughout his MVP press conference. He regularly does news conferences in L.A. with either or both of his young daughters in his lap.

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Flying on the hardwood, racing on the rink, getting physical on the gridiron, and much more. more photos

As recently as March, Bryant's Q rating was barely better than Ron Artest's, but No. 24 jersey sales were second in the league to Kevin Garnett's No. 5. He has a long way to go to star in as many commercials as Dwyane Wade, but Nike, Vitaminwater and Sony all are stepping up their involvement with him. Marketing expert Steve Rifkin, a former Nike consultant, says Bryant's improved marketing position has little to do with people forgiving (or forgetting) about the rape charge brought against him nearly five years ago. "He's grown up. Remember, this was someone who was thrust into the spotlight at 17," Rifkin says. "Right now, I'd rather market him than Wade."

See? It's all about the power of winning. The Heat led the league in losses. The Lakers led the West in wins. But what happens when the Lakers stumble? What happens if they don't make it to June and Bynum's knee keeps him out into next season? All this chummy stuff would be over in a hurry, right?

"Yeah, but I don't think they're going to struggle," Cassell says. "Getting Gasol was a big help. It really calmed him down. Now he knows he has a chance every year."

Cassell has a point. With a deep young bench, excellent second and third options in Gasol and Odom, a Hall of Fame coach and the MVP, the Lakers are loaded for a long run at the top of the league. "We have some attractive pieces," Bryant admits with a smile.

None of them more so than the man with a chance to become more than the next Mike.

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