Lakers’ Byron Scott: Kobe Bryant is the ‘last of a dying breed’

Kobe Bryant is back, ready or not.

He’s closer to the former than the latter, his exhibition play steadily improving from his first game a few weeks ago, but the real analysis starts Tuesday night with the Lakers’ season opener against Houston at Staples Center.

The numbers are so familiar now. Bryant is entering his 19th season. He played only six games last season because of a torn Achilles’ tendon and broken bone in his knee. He’s starting the first part of a two-year, $48.5-million contract extension. He turned 36 in August.

The Lakers will rely on him. Heavily. As usual.

“He’s going to still average 20-something points a game. He can score. That’s what he does,” Lakers Coach Byron Scott said. “I think anything less than that, he’d probably be disappointed. It really kind of depends on what he wants to average. That’s how good he is.”

He looked more confident as exhibition season unfolded, his drives to the basket becoming more common and his shot looking less flat. He averaged 19 points, four assists and 26.7 minutes in six exhibitions this month.

“He’s the last of a dying breed,” Scott said. “When he’s gone ... I think people will start looking back and seeing how much they miss him because he’s got an old-school spirit. He brings a lot to the table. He takes a lot of pride in what he does. He takes the game very seriously. To him, it’s all about winning. A lot of guys in this league don’t think that way.”

The Lakers are seven-point underdogs to the Rockets, likely the start of many times this season they won’t be favored. Still, though, the focus is on Bryant. How will he look? Can he will even this team to victory after victory?

“It’s good to see him back. I hope that he can stay healthy this whole season, which I don’t see no reason why [he wouldn’t],” Scott said. “Physically, he feels real good and I think mentally he’s in a great place. Done a great job in training camp, throughout the preseason, especially with our young guys. He’s taken a lot of ownership as far as that’s concerned as well.”

The Lakers got a spot of good injury news Tuesday when Ronnie Price took part in the team shoot-around. He was considered doubtful for the game because of a bone bruise on his knee but might be able to replace rookie Jordan Clarkson as Jeremy Lin’s backup at point guard.