Malone has become big brother for Lakers

It makes sense, really. Karl Malone, the 40-year-old who has seen it all and done it all, has become the elder statesman of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Sure, the Lakers began rolling three weeks ago toward their fourth NBA title in five years because Shaquille O'Neal found a renewed interest in playing defense, his teammates made a renewed effort to pass him the ball, and Kobe Bryant suddenly fell upon the perfect mix of individualism and teamwork, but who got through to the Lakers?

Who was in their ears after practice, on the team bus, slyly making suggestions, putting them at ease, building camaraderie? Malone.

Deftly maneuvering the volatile ground that separates O'Neal and Bryant, the Lakers' not-so-friendly leaders, Malone has become a big brother to them, making the Lakers feel more like a team than a collection of mercenaries who may accomplish the mission yet despise the journey.

Has anyone noticed the fun the Lakers have been having?

During their 92-85 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals, O'Neal was posturing jovially after dunks and rebounds, Bryant and Malone were chest-bumping each other and even the ornery Gary Payton was smiling.

"I think that has a lot to do with the playoffs coming around and everybody sensing that this is the time of year that we've been waiting for," Bryant said afterward. "When you have a goal, you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, something more immediate to play for, and the game becomes more fun."

It was certainly no fun when the Lakers were down, two games to none, to San Antonio in the conference semifinals, or even when Houston was giving them all they wanted in the first round.

But then Malone, who lives near Bryant in Newport Beach, Calif., took their friendship to another level. A large part of Malone's motivation is doing what is best for the team, but he is also concerned about Bryant's mental state during pretrial hearings in his sexual assault case in Colorado.

"I've had a lot of fun with Kobe the last two weeks," Malone said. "A lot of it's just been him because really and truly with his situation, you don't know what could happen. So I sit back there by him on the bus, and I kind of know when he's in a mood to talk, and I kind of let him be the one that can initiate the conversation."