Divac Gets Little Time for His Former Fans

Vlade Divac knows how fast allegiances change in the NBA.

When asked what Sacramento fans would write to him on hand-held signs Thursday night, he provided a two-word answer.

“Stop flopping,” he said.

A few minutes later, he got a little more sentimental.

“It feels weird in this locker room,” he said before Thursday’s game. “It was a wonderful six years here. These people know their basketball.”

Divac’s reunion with the Lakers since signing as a free agent has not been seamless, because of a back injury that stalled his conditioning and comprehension of a new offense. He was averaging 0.9 points, one rebound and 0.6 assists before Thursday. He had no points in three minutes against the Kings after getting a warm ovation.

“It’s been sort of a slow transition coming in with us with the injury,” said Laker Coach Rudy Tomjanovich, who hoped Divac would become more integrated as the season progressed. “He’s a team guy that makes other players better.”

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Kobe Bryant is fourth overall in the Western Conference in All-Star voting, and he trails Tracy McGrady among West guards. Bryant has 673,665 votes, about 6,700 fewer than McGrady.

Center Yao Ming leads the West and all players with 881,223 votes, and forward Kevin Garnett has 751,586 votes, most among West forwards.

Shaquille O’Neal leads all East players with 854,930 votes, followed by Vince Carter with 619,959 votes.

The other two Lakers listed among top vote-getters are somewhat surprising. Divac is fifth among West centers with 67,180 votes, and Brian Grant is 10th among West centers with 28,593 votes. Grant, like Divac, has been slowed by injuries.

Voting ends Jan. 23.

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As part of an NBA “Hardwood Classics” promotion, the Lakers and Washington Wizards will wear retro uniforms tonight. The Lakers will wear road uniforms from 1959-60, their last season in Minneapolis. The Wizards will wear home uniforms from 1970-71, the franchise’s first appearance in the NBA Finals.

TONIGHT

vs. Washington, 7:30, FSN West

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- KLAC (570); KWKW (1330).

Records -- Lakers 13-9; Wizards 12-8.

Record vs. Wizards (2003-04) -- 2-0.

Update -- The Wizards are averaging 100.7 points, fourth-best in the league. Forward Antawn Jamison is averaging 21.8 points, 14th in the league before Thursday’s games, and guard Gilbert Arenas is averaging 21.6 points per game, 17th in the league. The Lakers haven’t lost at home to Washington since February 1992.