Black Mamba's Favorite Laker Gets Interviewed

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The last thing Kwame Brown said when we were wrapping up our interview Friday was ``I can?t wait for training camp.?? Those words have to be music to the ears of Lakers fans, given Brown?s importance in the big picture of this season.

The Lakers have invested $25 million into developing Brown as their big man. He's only 24 years old yet going into his sixth NBA season. If Brown can pick up where he left off in the spring, when he averaged 12.4 points and 8.6 rebounds in 18 games with Chris Mihm out, the Lakers could be in business this season.

Here?s a transcript of the interview. We?re going to run a story in Sunday?s paper. As hard as it is to believe, training camp starts a week from Tuesday.

Q: How has the off-season gone? What have you focused on in terms of your game?

A: I?m just trying to get my legs and hamstrings back in order where I can be consistent. Last year, I think I had a great finish to the season. But I just want to have a great start. Instead of a letdown in the beginning, I want to come out of the gate and try to start out like I (finished) last year.

Q: Are your legs still an issue from when you broke your foot in Washington?

A: It?s just trying to get my hips and stuff balanced. The trainers know more than me. Some days everything feels good and then some days everything?s not balanced and lined up. I worked on my legs a lot, getting them bigger and stronger, so now I?m just working on my conditioning and trying to get my touch back on my shot.

I think that?s the main thing for me. I can get to the basket with my jump hook so I?ve got to add a little bit to my game where I can get some type of finesse (move) with a little 15-foot jumper or a little touch jump shot around the basket so I don?t have to bang every play and get tired.

Q: When you look back at last season, how different would the year have been if you didn?t get hurt early?

A: I was just thankful for the opportunity. I look back at it and say, `What if Chris Mihm would have never got hurt?? I would have never got the opportunity. I was trying to show the coaches that they can still have confidence in me, that I?m going to come back and try to be out of the gate like that now that I?m comfortable in the offense and guys know what I can do, and if I?m not doing it, they can hold me accountable for it.

Q: How much confidence do you have in your own game after the way you finished last year?

A: I have a lot. I think now my mindset and my teammates? mindset should be if I have the ball on the block, let me go to work. As opposed to the beginning of last season (when) I was looking to just pass the ball and get the ball to Lamar and Kobe.

I think now that when I get the ball, I?ve earned the trust in them and in myself to go ahead and go to work.</div>



Our greatest fear for next season ...

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Q: Do you like the new ball?

A: I hate the new ball. Oh my God. The last ball, it would get a little play on the rim. This ball, if it touches the rim, it?s coming out. It?s squirting right off the rim.

Q: What about handling the ball in the post?

A: The only difference about the ball is you can grip the ball a little better when it?s dry. When it gets wet, it gets a little heavier and lot more slippery than the other ball.

Q: So you?re not a fan

A: Not a fan. Not a fan at all.</div>

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I love his attitude coming into this season. In prior years, he's had great work ethic in the offseason a couple of times, just not the attitude. It seems he has them both now. I'm hoping that he can pick up that 12 and 8, and eventually turn it into 15 and 10.

BTW, Good look on the title bro