Lakers’ Kobe Bryant joked he had “mutual intervention” with Celtics’ Rajon Rondo over breakfast

Lakers star Kobe Bryant and Boston’s Rajon Rondo, the only players remaining from the teams’ NBA Finals showdowns in 2008 and 2010, will square off again under much different circumstances Friday night at TD Center in Boston. (Winslow Townson/The Associated Press)

Lakers star Kobe Bryant and Boston’s Rajon Rondo, the only players remaining from the teams’ NBA Finals showdowns in 2008 and 2010, will square off again under much different circumstances Friday night at TD Center in Boston. (Winslow Townson/The Associated Press)

BOSTON — The two men once faced each other in physically intense battles that both defined the Lakers-Celtics rivalry and determined NBA championships. But on Thursday morning, there Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and Celtics guard Rajon Rondo sat together for breakfast at The Paramount in Beacon Hill.

“It was delicious,” Bryant said following morning shootaround before the Lakers (5-14) visit the Boston Celtics (5-11) on Friday at TD Garden.

But the breakfast involved more than just enjoying orange juice and toast.

Bryant showed off his sarcasm involving the issue on whether he would like Rondo join the Lakers once he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.

“I’ve never thought about having any future teammates before,” Bryant said, wryly.

Instead, Bryant joked that he and Rondo had a “mutual intervention” surrounding their respective team struggles. In reality, Bryant reported having a “basketball geek conversation” that entailed revisiting the Lakers and Celtics trading NBA titles in 2008 and 2010.

But Bryant said those talks did not involve any bantering. Bryant said he reserves that for former Celtic Paul Pierce, who currently plays in Washington. What has Bryant said to Pierce?

“That two birds in a hand,” Bryant said, “are always better than one.”

Bryant spoke in glowing terms about the Lakers-Celtics rivalry, which produced a combined 33 NBA championships. Bryant said he still thinks about the Lakers’ 131-92 Game 6 loss to Boston that ended a six-game series loss in 2008, calling the game a “drubbing” and considering it “a big turning point” that ensured the Lakers winning two consecutive NBA championships.

“It means everything,” Bryant said. “I grew up with this rivalry. In the moment, you are so caught up with trying to beat him, You don’t understand the significance of actually participating in the Lakers-Celtics finals. That’s crazy. For me growing up and seeing that and then actually playing one, looking back now, that’s amazing.”

Does Bryant believe the Lakers and Celtics can rebuild quickly enough to ensure they play each other again in the NBA Finals before his career ends?

“That would be nice,” said Bryant, whose contract ends following the 2015-16 season. “I don’t know about them. But I know we’re certainly on the path to do it pretty quickly.”

Part of that hinges on how the Lakers rebuild their roster, which steers the conversation back to Rondo.

It is possible the Celtics could trade Rondo before the Feb. 19 trade deadline in hopes to receive assets instead of allowing their star point guard to leave next summer for nothing. But a deal would be complicated with the Lakers namely because they have such few assets. Their most attractive ones involve draft picks. But the Lakers owe one first-round draft pick to Phoenix as part of the Steve Nash trade two years ago assuming they don’t land a top-five pick. The Lakers have also acquired a draft pick as part of the Jeremy Lin trade from Houston, which looked to unload salary to make a run at Chris Bosh.

Bryant wouldn’t say it. But it appears obvious he would favor Rondo playing with him considering his deeply held respect for him.

“We get along extremely well and see the game in similar fashion in terms of our aggressiveness and mindset,” Bryant said. “It’s good to get together with him.”


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