O’Neal, Bryant Are All-NBA

Shaquille O’Neal was named to the All-NBA first team for the fourth time and Kobe Bryant made it for the first time.

They are the first teammates so honored since Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen of the Chicago Bulls in 1996, and the first Lakers since Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1986.

San Antonio’s Tim Duncan and Orlando’s Tracy McGrady were named to the first-team frontcourt and New Jersey’s Jason Kidd joined Bryant in the backcourt.

O’Neal was a first-teamer on 125 of 126 ballots. The 126th was a third-team vote, inexplicably. O’Neal did not seem much bothered by it, though two years ago he was just as close to a unanimous most valuable player and he still occasionally mentions the slight.

Bryant’s first appearance in the top five was more newsworthy, though Bryant reacted with typical cool.

“I put in a lot of hard work, a lot of sweat,” he said.

Twice a second-team player, Bryant, 23, averaged 25.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists in his sixth season. Teammates often marveled at Bryant’s selfless play.

“I’m proud of him,” O’Neal said. “He’s come a long way.”

There have been three other sets of All-NBA first-team players for the Lakers. Beyond the Johnson-Abdul-Jabbar set, West and Elgin Baylor were named together four times in the 1960s, and George Mikan and Jim Pollard were named together in 1949 and 1950 for the Minneapolis Lakers.

“It’s not necessarily by statistics,” forward Rick Fox said of the O’Neal-Bryant honor. “You look at their complete games. There’s a reason why we’re back-to-back champions, and they’re it.”

Tim Brown

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Yao Ming appeared to impress most of the 65 NBA scouts, coaches and team officials in Chicago to watch a pre-draft workout for the 7-foot-5 center considered to be the best player from China.

“For a guy this size, he can shoot the ball. He has a wonderful feel for the game,” said Jerry West, the Memphis Grizzlies’ new president.

“This is not a kid without talent. He has talent.”

Yao, 21, dunked and blocked a few shots. He moved well and had a smooth outside shot.

Associated Press

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All-NBA Selections

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