Text messages from press row ...

Could it be that trade-seeking Kobe Bryant has warmed to his teammates and is actually enjoying playing for the Lakers? . . .

It sure looks that way. . . .

Maybe it’s just his competitive zeal, but Bryant has given no indication that he’s putting out anything less than maximum effort for Coach Phil Jackson, the nine-time All-Star showing his grit again this week by fighting through stomach flu and a bruised left shoulder to help the Lakers sweep a two-game trip. . . .

His will has been impressive. . . .

Trevor Ariza, who scored 15 points in Tuesday’s victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, is the 16th former UCLA player to play for the Lakers, the most notable being Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Gail Goodrich, of course. . . .

Five former USC players have suited up for the Lakers but none since the 1992-93 season, when Duane Cooper averaged 2.4 points in 65 games. . . .

Coach Mike Dunleavy’s injury-riddled Clippers, who have lost seven consecutive games and 11 of 13 to fall to last place in the Pacific Division, have made fewer than 50% of their shots in all 17 of their games. . . .

In 13 games since their 4-0 start, the Clippers have made fewer than 45% of their shots 10 times and, despite Chris Kaman’s averaging 13.9 rebounds to rank among the NBA leaders, they’ve been out-rebounded 11 times. . . .

The Clippers, by the way, would have to lose each of their remaining 12 games this month to match the franchise record of 19 consecutive losses. . . .

Eight of the 12 are on the road, so don’t rule it out. . . .

The return of All-Star defenseman Scott Niedermayer could be the jolt the Ducks need to snap out of their Stanley Cup hangover. . . .

The Clippers hope for a similar lift when Elton Brand returns. . . .

Andruw Jones, the Dodgers’ new center fielder, signed with the Atlanta Braves when he was 16, and was only 19 when he hit two home runs in Game 1 of the 1996 World Series, breaking a record held by Mickey Mantle -- on the Mick’s birthday, no less -- to become the youngest player to homer in the World Series. . . . .

The opposing manager in New York that night was Joe Torre. . . .

The $1.35-million winner’s share at the Target World Challenge, a 16-player event hosted by Tiger Woods that tees off Thursday at Sherwood Country Club, exceeds the winning check at any of golf’s four major championships. . . .

Woods donates his earnings to the Tiger Woods Foundation, a total that reached nearly $5.6 million after he won the event for the third time last year. . . .

The four finalists for the Lott Trophy -- linebacker James Laurinaitis of Ohio State, defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey of Louisiana State, defensive end Chris Long of Virginia and linebacker J Leman of Illinois -- are expected to be in attendance Sunday night at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach when the award is presented to college football’s defensive player of the year. . . .

The award, of course, is named for former USC All-American Ronnie Lott, who won four Super Bowl rings with the San Francisco 49ers. . . .

Long, a 6-foot-4, 284-pound senior who was the Atlantic Coast Conference defensive player of the year and ranked third nationally with 14 sacks, is a son of Pro Football Hall of Famer and Fox broadcaster Howie Long. . . .

Unlike his father, who was a second-round pick of the Raiders in 1981, Long is expected to be a high first-round pick in the NFL draft next spring. . . .

Speaking of the NFL draft, ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. lists five USC players -- Sedrick Ellis, Sam Baker, Fred Davis, Keith Rivers and Lawrence Jackson -- among the nation’s top 25 senior prospects. . . .

Pointing out during USC’s overtime loss to second-ranked Memphis on Tuesday night that Coach Tim Floyd’s Trojans were picked to finish sixth in the Pacific 10 Conference, ESPN’s Dick Vitale noted, “If there are five teams better than them in the Pac-10, [that’s] clearly the best conference in America.” . . .

Reader Jim Bendat e-mails to report that, while Indiana has never played UCLA in Pauley Pavilion, the Hoosiers have played in the building. . . .

In December 1969, Coach Lou Watson’s Indiana team lost to Princeton in the semifinals of the four-team Bruin Classic, then defeated Georgia Tech two nights later in the third-place game. . . .

In the tournament finale, Sidney Wicks’ last-second shot gave UCLA a 76-75 victory over Princeton. . . .

Bob Knight took over at Indiana in the spring of 1971. . . .

Notes Ricky Hatton of England, who will risk his 43-0 record against champion Floyd Mayweather (38-0) in a World Boxing Council welterweight title bout Saturday night in Las Vegas, “Somebody’s ‘0’ has got to go.”

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jerome.crowe@latimes.com