Bryant, Knight Rookie All-Stars

Kobe Bryant and Travis Knight were named Tuesday to play in the rookie all-star game in February, what was clearly a nod to the popularity of Bryant and a disappointment to the most deserving Laker, Derek Fisher.

Fisher has been the backup point guard the entire season, playing a crucial role for a first-place team and often running the offense in the fourth quarter of close games. Bryant, meanwhile, has only been in the rotation about a week and a half.

But Fisher did not get beat out for the honor by his teammates. He lost out because of the process that called for the five national media members--including Hubie Brown of TNT and Matt Goukas of NBC--to select three guards for the eight-man team that will represent the Western Conference on Feb. 8 in Cleveland. Matt Maloney of Houston, Stephon Marbury of Minnesota and Steve Nash of Phoenix, all deserving, got voted on.

“The Lord works in mysterious ways,” Fisher said. “There will be some days when I can go back home [to Little Rock, Ark.] and see my grandmother [who has been sick]. It’s just human emotion to be disappointed when you feel you deserve it, but not to the point that I’m mad at anybody.”

Said Knight, who in two months has gone from the end of the bench to being the first big man off it: “Obviously, I’m very honored. It’s a little disappointing that Derek wasn’t included. It’s a great feeling, but then it kind of takes away a little.”

The Lakers and Vancouver Grizzlies, with Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Roy Rogers, are the only teams with two players in the rookie game. Samaki Walker of Dallas, on the injured list now but expected back in time, rounds out the Western roster.

Among the eight selected for the East are No. 1 pick Allen Iverson, Marcus Camby and Kerry Kittles.