Los Angeles starting center Andrew Bynum helped the defending champs off to a 1-0 start on opening night and the party didn’t stop with the win.

The night happened to coincide with the 7 footer’s birthday and after going for 26 and 13 against the cross town rival Clippers, the now 22-year-old treated himself to a giant sized present.

TMZ is reports that Bynum walked into a Los Angeles car dealership and purchased a yellow and black Chevrolet Camaro with all the trimmings.

A near identical match to the Transformers character (or would that be car-actor?) Bumblebee, Bynum’s whip is yellow and black with a customized body kit and racing stripes.

AB reportedly changed out the chrome rims for black ones and is said to be ecstatic with his new toy.

The Lakers will attempt to go 2-0 when they play the Dallas Mavericks tonight as the second half of a double header on ESPN at 10:30 PM.

In case you hadn’t heard, Stephen Jackson got like five fouls in the first ten minutes of a game against the Lakers and it turns out it was a direct result of his matchup with Kobe Bryant.

Jackson found himself emotionally charged over the battle with the superstar shooting guard and apparently reacted violently because he felt like he was on an island against Bryant.

“Nobody reacted but me, so the team didn’t have a reaction,” Jackson said after practice Wednesday. “It was only me standing up for myself. I don’t think anybody else stood up for me.

Apparently, Jackson wanted or needed some help given the physical nature of play that ensued between he and Bryant. in that short time span. The former Pacer and Spur continue his rant, arguing that he too should be consider the best player in the league.

“I’m not a fan of Kobe. I’m not somebody who looks up to him,” Jackson said. “I’m a grown man, so when I go out there and play the game, I play the game. I feel like I’m just as good as him. I might not get the publicity or the notoriety he gets, but I feel like I can play with anybody in the NBA.”

Well, he may be as good as Kobe in his own mind, but stats don’t prove it and neither does the following clip.

WATCH JACKSON GET CROSSED UP

Considered by many as the greatest point guard to ever play the game of basketball, Magic Johnson’s legacy incited many a cheer for his beloved Laker fans and many a tear for the franchise’s opposition. In celebration of his stellar career, NBA TV has dedicated this entire week to Johnson and his “Showtime” Lakers, who won five championships while he was at the helm.

Among the highlights this week have been Magic’s rookie season, where he led his squad to a Game 6 clincher against the Philadelphia 76ers in which he claimed his first NBA championship. Other hardwood classics have included the Lakers’ back to back title run in ‘87 and ‘88, as well as unforgettable collisions against Larry Bird and his Boston Celtics.

More of the Magic/Bird rivalry will be televised today and NBA TV will cap the week on his Magic’s birthday tomorrow with a new show entitled Magic’s 50 at 6 PM EST. Repeats will air at 7:00 and 11:30.

For more info click this link.

1. Allen Iverson chopped off the braids.
2. Kobe Bryant is not the consensus “best player in the league.”
3. The most dominant player in the league is not named Shaquille O’Neal.
4. All Star Saturday sucks consistently
5. 40 (PPG) is the new 30
6. Melo chopped off the braids
7. Shaq is the best player on a team that isn’t going to make the playoffs.
8. The Boston Celtics have more Black players than the Lakers
9. The Denver Nuggets (we like to call them the “Thuggets”) are more thug than the Detroit Pistons
10. Doo rags and rapper chains are not allowed in interviews or on the court by players.

After an arduous basketball spring that carried him into the playoffs and ultimately the 2008 NBA Finals, Lakers lead man Kobe Bryant is opting to not have surgery on his mangled pinky finger. Upon returning home from the Olympics in Beijing, where he and team USA took the gold and the rights to claim the USA the best in the World, Bryant met with doctors to diagnose the potential pinky repair.  (continue reading…)