Andrew Goudelock to join the Lakers

Although he remains unsure what role he will provide, Andrew Goudelock said he will dress in uniform tonight when the Lakers host the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center and will stay with the team for however long the season lasts.

Goudelock flew into Los Angeles Sunday morning after spending the previous night playing with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in their 98-97 win over the Maine Red Claws in Game 2 of the NBA Development League quarterfinals in Hidalgo, Texas.

Goudelock’s return to the Lakers after playing here in his rookie year last year coincides with Kobe Bryant’s season-ending left torn Achilles’ tendon that required surgery.

“Obviously, I’m not Kobe Bryant and I can’t do what he does,” Goudelock said in a phone interview with this newspaper. “I want to come in and try to help get these guys to he playoffs its been a hard fought season.”

The Lakers (43-37) enter their game against San Antonio (58-21) with a one-game lead over the Utah Jazz (42-38) for the Western Conference’s eighth playoff spot with two games remaining.

The Lakers waived Goudelock during training camp this season, but he earned a spot in the rotation last season because of his outside shooting. Goudelock averaged 4.4 points on a 37.3 percent mark from three-point range in his rookie season last year with the Lakers. Goudelock has ranked 14th overall in scoring the NBA’s Development League, averaging a combined 21.1 points per game in two different stints with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and the Siox Falls Skyforce.

Goudelock said he “feels like he’s gotten 10 times better” within the last year, most notably at playing the point guard position.

“Everything has been rounded out,” Goudelock said. “I still have a ways to go. Like every basketball player, you never reach your full potential. But I’ve made long strides being in the D-League.”

Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@dailynews.com