Richmond Is Hoping His Time Will Come

In a gym at Rhodes College, a few miles from the Pyramid, Mitch Richmond strolled past Phil Jackson and a few reporters Thursday afternoon and, in a mock whisper, said, “Ask him if I’m going to play. Go on. Ask.”

Jackson laughed.

“Why?” Jackson said, which made Richmond laugh too.

Richmond, the 36-year-old shooter, was supposed to be more involved by now. Instead, his minutes have come mostly in blowouts, or in what Jackson considers the “soft” parts of games.

Jackson makes no apologies. He claims many matchups do not suit Richmond, but that there is time for Richmond to become more involved.

Richmond insists he is happy with his decision to come to the Lakers. “I’m not saying it’s not difficult sometimes,” he said, “but I’m reaching a goal.”

His aim was to win, and perhaps win big, all the way into June, the sort of thing he’d never done before. In the meantime, he has been upbeat for his teammates and, in particular, Jackson.

“I have confidence in him,” Richmond said.

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Jackson said Thursday that he is leaning toward having Shaquille O’Neal go to the All-Star game, with the hope that Western Conference Coach Don Nelson honors O’Neal’s request to play only a few minutes.

TONIGHT

at Memphis, 5 PST (6, Ch. 9)

Site--The Pyramid.

Radio--KLAC (570).

Records--Lakers 31-12, Grizzlies 13-32.

Record vs. Grizzlies--2-1.

Update--The Grizzlies have lost eight of nine games and are 6-13 since beating the Lakers on Dec. 21 at the Pyramid. Their lone win since Jan. 12 was against the Clippers.

Tim Brown