NBA ALL-STAR GAME NOTEBOOK: Bryant leaves them hanging - Los Angeles Daily News

ORLANDO, Fla. - The 50 or so reporters surrounding Kobe Bryant's podium at the West All-Star's media session Friday began congregating at 1:20 p.m. or so.

Then they waited.

And waited.

All the while staring at the empty table and chair reserved for the Lakers guard.

Bryant, as it turns out, was too ill to make the mandatory press conference, which wasn't revealed until about a half-hour into the session when an NBA official finally came over and told everyone.

Lakers spokesmen Josh Rupprecht, who is in Orlando, had no other details. There is no word whether Bryant's illness will affect his status for Sunday's All-Star game.

Incidentally, Bryant did make an appearance later Friday with Miami Heat star LeBron James in conjunction with a Sprite soda-sponsored competition.

Bynum's knee no big deal

Bryant wasn't the only ailing Laker on Friday as Andrew Bynum underwent a scheduled - and relatively simple - knee procedure and will miss practice today.

Bynum received an injection to alleviate pain, a procedure he described as putting oil on a creaky hinge.

"It's not that bad, I've had it before," said Bynum, who added that he probably won't play big minutes in Sunday's game.

Howard mania hits France

The Dwight Howard trade-me-or-lose me saga with the Orlando Magic is so big that fans in France are at the edge of their seats

At least that's what a French reporter indicated when he asked

Noah's father is French tennis great Yannick Noah.

"Wow, you're just going to throw that out there, aren't you?" a polite Rose responded when asked such a direct question.

The reporter told Rose he was from France and fans there were interested in Noah's fate.

Rose played along - politically correct as it was - by saying he believes in Noah and hopes he remains a Bulls teammate.

But he also admitted Howard is a pretty good player.

Griffin taking it easy

The difference between last year's All-Star weekend and this year's is a big one for Clippers forward Blake Griffin, who was everywhere and anywhere last year but has scaled it back this time around.

It was understandable Griffin was so busy last year - the game was in Los Angeles and he was taking the league by storm at the time.

And the NBA capitalized by promoting him nonstop over the three-day event.

The result was a tired, weary Griffin by the end of the weekend.

"It was hectic." Griffin remembered. "I remember we had just come off a (15-day) road trip and we got in (at 2 a.m.) that Thursday and everything started for me at noon that Friday and it was nonstop from then on."

A whirlwind schedule had Griffin working from noon till beyond midnight the rest of the weekend.

It was hardly a surprise that a worn-out Griffin got sick immediately after that weekend, a sign that he probably bit off more than he can chew.

"It affected the next month for me," Griffin said.

He has scaled things back considerably this year, neglecting a chance to defend his slam dunk championship today while getting as much rest as he can.

Griffin did play in the Rising Stars game, although he played less than 11 minutes over the 40-minute game.

His plan for tonight?

"Relax and spend time with my family and just enjoy myself," Griffin said.

Linsanity reigns

New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin was given his own press conference before Friday's Rising Stars game. That wasn't the big story considering how much he's captivated the country with his sudden assent to stardom.

Lin is one of the biggest stories in the world and deserved the platform - especially with so many reporters from all over the word chasing his story.

No, the press conference wasn't the big deal.

What was significant was his disclosure that he was worried about being released from the Knicks as recently as three weeks ago

In fact, he was so concerned the Knicks would cut him prior to Feb. 10 - the day all contracts become guaranteed - he requested some teammates and players on the Miami Heat to pray for him during a mutual team chapel.

Heat forward Udonis Haslem shared the story with reporters Thursday in Miami and Lin confirmed it Friday at his press conference.

"The chaplain asked us to share a prayer and I knew February 10 th was right around the corner so that was on my heart, just that I would be able to continue to stay on the roster and be with the team the rest of the year" Lin remembered. "So that's what I kind of shared with the guys and (Haslem) was one of the guys in there."

Rising stars

Team Chuck, coached by Charles Barkley, beat a team coached by Shaquille O'Neal 146-133 in the Rising Star's game behind MVP Kyrie Irving's 34 points.

The Cleveland Cavaliers rookie made 12 of 13 shots and hit all eight of his three-pointers.

Paul George, a second-year forward with the Indiana Pacers and former Knight of Palmdale star, finished with 23 points. Griffin had 10 points in his short stint.

Lin played 8:55 and had two points and one assist.

vincent.bonsignore@dailynews.com