Bryant Wins Plaudits Without Losing Style

Kobe Bryant made his first appearance of the season for the Lakers on Wednesday night.

That was the rumor, anyway.

After missing the first 15 games because of a broken bone in his right hand, Kobe Bryant was activated.

So read the press release.

A day later, everything else is subject to debate.

Indeed, that was Kobe who entered the game with 2:54 remaining in the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors, bringing the Superstore crowd to its feet by merely moving toward the scorer’s table.

But that could not have been Kobe who went the entire first possession without taking a shot.

That certainly looked like Kobe with the big hair and the goatee and the hustle.

But that could not have been Kobe who also went the entire second possession without a shot.

Before the game, the unofficial over-under on Kobe’s first heave was approximately four seconds.

Those who bet on the old Kobe lost big, as this one didn’t throw up anything until he had been in the game one minute and 30 seconds.

What had started as wild cheers became an uncomfortable murmur. It was as if old friends suddenly discovered an impostor in their midst. As if No. 8 was a fake.

With 15 seconds left in the quarter, the old Kobe finally emerged, spectacularly, but briefly, putting the ball behind his back, slicing through three defenders, throwing up a rainbow layup that swished.

The murmurs became cheers. Bryant turned to the crowd, patted his right hand on his chest, and shouted, “I’m back! I’m back!”

But in the second quarter, the old Kobe disappeared.

He had as many assists (2) as field goals (2).

He once went consecutive possessions with passes to--gasp--Shaquille O’Neal.

Taking the ball down the middle on a fastbreak, he, well, uh, he passed it to Ron Harper.

The first half ended with a wild one-on-one shot by Kobe, and many still cheered, thinking he had finally found himself.

But then he returned to the game in the middle of the third quarter and the first thing he tried was not a shot, but a cross-court pass to Glen Rice.

He started the fourth quarter with a flying dunk.

But on the next possession, leading the team on a fastbreak, he slowed and handed the ball to Rick Fox behind him.

You could hear the moans all the way to Hollywood.

By the time the Lakers had finished a 93-75 victory over the pitiful Warriors, Kobe had taken 18 shots, but it seemed like eight. He had three assists, but it seemed like 13.

He’s back, he’s back?

Not the Kobe we know.

But maybe this is the Kobe that Phil Jackson wants to know.

Maybe this is the Kobe who, as he showed during eight preseason practice days, is rhythmic enough to fit his cymbal-like skills into a triangle.

Maybe Wednesday was just a different sort of debut, the best possible debut.

“I’m feeling kind of numb,” he said afterward.

Judging from the fans who surrounded an entrance to cheer his exit, he’s not the only one.

With allowances for his obvious lack of endurance and timing, Kobe reminded us of his ability to brilliantly rescue a play or a period.

But he only showed it when they needed him to show it.

Yes, he can still be spectacular. But he also appears smarter.

“In past years, I would try to go one-on-one the whole game,” he said, smiling. “But my maturing process has continued every year.”

Indeed, in his first game since last spring’s debacle against the San Antonio Spurs, not once did he greet us as he left us, dribbling the ball from baseline to baseline, more hog than hero.

He finally seems to realize that he has an offense where less is more.

“It’s a matter of going out there and flowing in, mixing in,” Kobe said.

And yet, when push comes to buzzer, he can still stand out.

“In this offense, he can do the same things he’s done before,” Harper said. “There’s a point in the game when he can do what he did best. He just has to know where he can get his game off at.”

It seems as if he’s already figuring that out.

“Its going to be easy,” predicted Rice. “The triangle is a motion offense. He creates shots off the dribble. He’ll fit in perfect.”

Jackson, smiling at the suggestion that Kobe would come out gunning, predicted he would.

“I don’t foresee any problems,” Jackson said. “If there is, we’ll rein him in.”

For the first time in a long time, it was a threat that had substance, and a threat that may not be needed.

Of Bryant’s understanding of the offense, Jackson said, “He puts two and two together out there. He’s got a nose for it.”

When we last left Kobe Bryant with four minutes remaining Wednesday, he was driving through the lane and leaving his feet and double-pumping the ball and drawing three defenders and . . .

Passing to an open, if surprised, Travis Knight.

We could get used to this.

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Bill Plaschke can be reached at his e-mail address: bill.plaschke@latimes.com.