Kobe moves past rancor

Kobe Bryant wanted to keep the conversation current, but he kept finding himself talking about the recent past.

Swarmed by media after his first workout with Team USA Friday at Cox Pavilion, the Lakers star guard acknowledged having regrets over the way he handled his campaign to try to force the team to trade him this offseason.

Rather than addressing the matter privately, Bryant went on radio talk shows and was even captured on a cell-phone video criticizing Los Angeles general manager Mitch Kupchak and teammate Andrew Bynum.

"If I could go back and do things differently, I would have," Bryant said after the first day of Team USA's three-day minicamp. "But all I can do is go forward."

Bryant has spoken to Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss and manager Mitch Kupchak since making his trade demand.

"Dr. Buss and I have had several conversations," Bryant said. "I won't get into the conversations we had. We want to keep things private and between ourselves. It's a shame things escalated the way they had. But I think going forward all I can do, all we can do, is handle it the right way and not be a distraction."

Bryant has two years remaining on his contract. When asked if he will attend Lakers preseason camp in Hawaii in October, Bryant said, "I understand the interest in the situation, and at the right time I'll address the situation."

Jerry Colangelo, USA basketball managing director, said he and coach Mike Krzyzewski don't expect Bryant to be a distraction.

"You check your ego at the door," Colangelo said. "It's not about you. It's about Team USA. And if everyone has that attitude, there's no issue, there's no problem.

"Kobe didn't have to be told anything like that."

Krzyzewski said: "Having Kobe here means we have a great player who wants to represent his country as much as anybody. He's never had a chance (to do that). So even though he's a veteran and a great player, he's like a little kid. His enthusiasm to play, the guys see that, and one thing we've seen already is that everyone fits in so well."

Bryant said he's mentally and physically ready to represent the United States. As far as he's concerned, the Lakers sideshow he helped create is on hiatus.

"To put on this jersey means everything," Bryant said. "I've been looking forward to this for a while, and to be in this position now, representing our country, it's special."

Bryant missed last year's USA Basketball experience after undergoing knee surgery last July. He arrived in Las Vegas in peak shape after leading the NBA in scoring this past season with a 31.6 average. He has dropped about 20 pounds since the season ended, mainly because of an improved diet.

"I feel great," Bryant said. "It's the first time I've been 200 pounds since '98. I'm just watching what I eat. I had something to eat, I think it was pepperoni pizza and a grape soda, and I started feeling a little bloated. I didn't know what that sensation was. I tried to get out on the track and run and I felt a little heavy, so I realized I had to cut back a little bit."

Bryant said he'll have no trouble blending with his teammates and he'll adjust his game in any way that's needed.

"With the system we run, it's beautiful," Bryant said. "Keep the floor spaced. Keep it spread. Run up and down. Move the ball. Just play off one another.

"Tayshaun Prince made a pass off a read that shocked the hell out of me. Jason Kidd, the way he sees the floor, he threw an alley-oop to me, I had no idea he even saw me. It's unbelievable."