Bryant Dehydrated, Exhausted

Dehydrated and hyperventilating after playing 47 minutes in Game 5, Kobe Bryant was administered two bags of intravenous fluid before leaving SBC Center.

“Exhausted,” trainer Gary Vitti said as Bryant boarded the team bus, which was delayed about 20 minutes as Bryant received treatment.

With players and team personnel waiting around the bus, some on folding chairs, some standing, many having found food and drink in nearby vending machines, Bryant emerged from the locker room.

Surrounded by team officials and bodyguards, Bryant, who scored 22 points and made a go-ahead basket with 11 seconds left, walked slowly among them. He wore a gray sweatshirt, its hood pulled around his face. His hands were stuffed in the pockets and his head was down.

In the hour after the game, Bryant showed symptoms of dehydration and fatigue. For several minutes, he could not catch his breath. Vitti supplied him with a bag and he covered his mouth with it until he was able to fill his lungs and breathe fully.

Since Monday morning, Bryant had flown from Los Angeles to Eagle, Colo., and back twice, played Tuesday night in Game 4, practiced Wednesday, then flew to San Antonio with the team.

In a late timeout, Bryant nearly fell into the arms of a teammate before finding a place on the bench.

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One of his most marketable and recognizable players leaves the league’s premier franchise in the middle of the conference finals for a felony arraignment.

But the player returns in time to score 42 points and it’s all anybody talks about for two days.

That leaves Commissioner David Stern where, exactly?

“I think that we would hope our young men aren’t in those situations,” Stern said Thursday. “And it’s troubling to see that. But there’s been an accusation and that’s what the system is about.”

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Bryon Russell suggested to Shaquille O’Neal recently that he should shoot his free throws more like him, and O’Neal sort of took him up on it.

“I’m trying to help out any way I can,” said Russell, who has played eight minutes in the postseason.

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Gary Payton, to referee Danny Crawford, after a touch foul on Devin Brown in the third quarter: “Let me touch him first, Danny.”