Lakers’ injured Julius Randle credits Kobe Bryant with an assist

Julius Randle was laboring as he walked on his crutches at Staples Center, huffing and puffing as he sat down heavily in front of reporters.

It wasn’t from the pain, the Lakers rookie said. He’s dehydrated and fatigued. Hasn’t been doing much since he sustained a broken right tibia in last week’s season opener.

“Today was the first day I got out of the house. Just been sitting on the couch,” he said Tuesday, adding that he hooked up a video-game console earlier in the day.

It wasn’t an easy seven days for the seventh overall pick in this year’s draft. He took off for a layup attempt against Houston and his season was ruined by the time he landed.

He acknowledged his share of tears and frustration, crediting Kobe Bryant as one of the people who “helped me really get out of my pity party.”

Bryant’s message: You’re not the first player to experience a serious injury and you’re going to have a great comeback.

“Your rehabilitation and your mind-set starts now” were Bryant’s words, Randle said.

Randle also talked about an “attack plan” that might have him walking with one crutch in six weeks. He declined to discuss an overall timetable, though the Lakers expected him to miss the rest of the season.

Randle, who turns 20 at the end of this month, hasn’t looked at a replay of the injury. He remembers it, though.

“When I went up, it felt like somebody kicked me … just like a ‘pop’ sound. I didn’t even think it was my leg because I didn’t feel it,” he said. “Once I got down on the ground … I didn’t even try to get up. My leg was too weak.

“I told [Lakers trainer] Gary Vitti, he’s like, ‘What happened?’ I said, ‘I broke my leg.’”

Randle said he had become an “extreme student” by watching more NBA games since his injury, not just the Lakers.

“More than anything, I’m just motivated,” he said, later adding. “I can’t wait to get myself right and help my team.”

Kelly’s MMA training

Ryan Kelly knows he’s tall and thin. And basketball can be a contact sport.

So at the advice of his personal trainer, he underwent some mixed martial arts training during the off-season.

“I’m just glad I didn’t get knocked out,” Kelly said. “I didn’t crush anybody. If you saw the videos, I don’t think those punches would knock anybody out.”

Kelly said it with a smile Tuesday, a good day for him. He returned to action against Phoenix after missing a month because of two hamstring injuries.

He was pretty quiet, with two points in the Lakers’ 112-106 loss.

Kelly signed a two-year, $3.4-million deal to stay with the Lakers, but his debut this season was put on hold.

“It’s frustrating because you’re dealing with a new [coaching] staff, new teammates. You want to prove to everybody that you’re worth throwing out there and can be productive,” Kelly said. “My timetable’s a little different, but I’ll prove it.”

He’s also hoping the MMA training helps him absorb contact better down low.

“I just tried to mix it up a little bit,” he said. “I wanted to continue to work on my body and be able to take those hits. I guess we’ll find out.”

Follow Mike Bresnahan on Twitter @Mike_Bresnahan