Doctor’s Orders: Bryant Must Wait

Kobe Bryant’s hopes for an immediate return were dashed after Wednesday morning’s reexamination by team physician Stephen Lombardo, who decided that Bryant’s broken right hand will sideline him at least until Dec. 1.

“It’s right on schedule,” Bryant said after practice. “I was wishing for it to be a little bit earlier. . . . I feel like I can go right now.

“But he said the threat of actually getting hit on the bone again and having it break again is definitely not worth it. It’s not even healed yet. There’s still a fracture there.”

When Bryant broke the bone in his right hand Oct. 13, the original estimate was that he would be out four to six weeks, which would have gotten him back in the lineup around Thanksgiving--after a 12- or 13-game absence.

Though Laker Coach Phil Jackson on Wednesday raised the possibility that Bryant could return for the Nov. 30 game in Seattle, a team spokesman said Bryant will not see Lombardo again until Dec. 1 and will not play without Lombardo’s clearance.

“It’s hard because I love the game,” said Bryant, who would be out for at least 15 games if he misses all of November. “Those are my buddies out there. I want to be out there, playing with them and having fun with them and laughing with them.”

What makes it less stressful, Bryant said, is seeing the Lakers get off to a 7-2 start without him, led by Shaquille O’Neal.

“If we were 2-6, I’d be, ‘Aww, strap me up,’ ” Bryant said. “Shaq and I had a talk about it. [O’Neal said,] ‘You know what, man, I’m just going to hold the fort down until you get back. . . . [When] you come back, we’ll be 10-2.’ ”

Jackson said he wants Bryant to use this time to watch his teammates and get a feel for the adjustments and mental approach.

“Ultimately, it’s allowing us to establish a little bit of an identity without him, which is good,” Jackson said. “When he gets back, he’ll just be an added plus for us.

“[In] his own personal development, I’m really asking him to look defensively at what he can do differently and how defensively he can be a better player and learn the habits of his opponents. . . . Let him study that aspect, even as much as the offense.”

TONIGHT

at Denver

6 PST, Channel 9

* Site--Pepsi Center.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records---Lakers 7-2, Nuggets 2-5.

* Record vs. Nuggets (1999)--2-1.

* Update--To counter Denver center Raef LaFrentz’s outside shooting (52.6% from three-point distance), O’Neal probably will defend power forward Antonio McDyess, and A.C. Green will get LaFrentz. The Nuggets have struggled in a tough opening stretch (Portland twice, New York once), but former Laker Nick Van Exel is averaging nine assists, fourth-best in the league.