O’Neal, Bryant Are Parties to Smoother Relationship

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, tense teammates last season, started the Phil Jackson era Monday with conciliatory words and let-bygones-be-bygones shrugs.

Whatever happened, both said, was just about two Laker superstars with very different personalities growing up next to each other.

O’Neal, in fact, attended Bryant’s 21st birthday party last month.

“I didn’t know what his schedule was like--I invited him, hoping that he would come,” Bryant said during Monday’s Laker pre-training camp media day at the Great Western Forum. “He came through.”

Last season, O’Neal at times hinted that he was wearying of Bryant’s individualistic play and Bryant at times sounded confused by O’Neal.

“It’s normal for two young guys not similar to each other to go through things like that,” the 27-year-old O’Neal said Monday.

“I’m sure Magic and Kareem went through it. I know [Charles] Barkley and Dr. J [Julius Erving] went through it. The more we play together, the more we’re going to learn each other.

“I don’t have a problem with him. You all know if I have a problem with anybody or anything, I will say it. I don’t hold my tongue.”

Bryant said the simple fact that they had survived last season strengthened their relationship.

“I hope it all happened last year and this year is . . . more smooth sailing,” Bryant said. “It’s inevitable. It had to happen. We just got it out of the way.

“We’re going to have arguments. And last year it just kind of got blown out of proportion. Other things started seeping out of the locker room. It just kind of became a whirlwind.”

With Jackson’s first training camp set to start this morning at UC Santa Barbara, Monday was a day of optimism and Laker plans.

Forward Glen Rice, playing out the final year of his contract amid rumors he could be traded at any time, deferred comment on trade or contract talk.

“It’s not going to become a distraction to me, because I’m not going to talk about it,” Rice said.

Rice, looking about 10 pounds lighter than last season, when he was traded a month into the season after elbow surgery, said he planned a return to all-star form.

“I had a tough time last year,” he said. “But I’ve just got to go out there and do what I do best. I’m in much better shape this year and things should be pretty much back to normal.”

And Jackson, among other tidbits, said that he could envision a backcourt of the 6-foot-7 Bryant and 6-7 Rick Fox--who both started last season as forwards--with no smaller player on the floor.

“That’s a real possibility,” Jackson said. “I’d like to see a big lineup.

“I like to see honest defensive teams. I don’t like to have to switch or double-team. This is a conference in which Jason Kidd posts up and you have [Gary] Payton posting up. And I don’t know how many other guards like to post up in this conference, but I don’t like to have to cheat defensively.

“I’m a coach that really likes honest defensive play.”

Meanwhile, the Lakers announced the signing of No. 1 pick Devean George, who agreed to a three-year, $2.12-million deal, and non-guaranteed deals for free-agents Gerald Jordan and Garry Garrett.

That brings the training camp roster to 20, the maximum allowed.