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Kobe Bryant insisted on giving some of the team's playoff bonus to two members of the Lakers' video department whose contracts were not renewed after the season. Chris Bodaken and Patrick O'Keefe split about $65,000 of the Lakers' playoff bonus.

Bodaken started with the Lakers as a ball boy in 1986 and spent the last 10 seasons as their director of video services. O'Keefe was the Lakers' video coordinator for six seasons. They both hope to be re-hired by the team when the NBA lockout ends. For now, they are thankful for Bryant's financial gesture.

"He always looks out for people who are lower on the totem pole," O'Keefe said.

Said Bodaken: "At the end of the day, he told us he was going to take care of us and he did, and that's not how most people in the world operate. He not only talks the talk. He walks it."

Bryant and Derek Fisher, Lakers' captains last season, voted to give some of the playoff money to Bodaken and O'Keefe.

Lakers reserve forward Luke Walton took an extra step after the season by providing individual financial gifts to members of the training staff.

"They're a huge part of our team," said Walton, who did not specify how much he gave. "When they got laid off, this was a way to let them know that we appreciate them. It was something to help them through what was already a tough time."

crazyeights wrote:Pardon me, Mr. Optms, but stealing? Stealing??? Everyone knows Phil was just holding Luke back last year. He was ready to play and contribute. And now with got Dirk's shot...Mike Brown will have no other choice. #startingsmallforward.

crazyeights wrote:Pardon me, Mr. Optms, but stealing? Stealing??? Everyone knows Phil was just holding Luke back last year. He was ready to play and contribute. And now with got Dirk's shot...Mike Brown will have no other choice. #startingsmallforward.

laduane1 wrote:Kobe only made around 24 million last year. So a playoff bonus to him is like a new car. He has many and really does not need another. Players would not be shown how they are without the workers behind the scenes. Finally a player does something good for someone else than him self. I would think Kobe should have doubled it. He needs some good pub now anyway,...

"He always looks out for people who are lower on the totem pole," O'Keefe said.

Optms wrote:

crazyeights wrote:Pardon me, Mr. Optms, but stealing? Stealing??? Everyone knows Phil was just holding Luke back last year. He was ready to play and contribute. And now with got Dirk's shot...Mike Brown will have no other choice. #startingsmallforward.

Walton is that you?!

Jay From LA wrote:
Nice try, Luke Walton

crazyeights wrote:

Optms wrote:

crazyeights wrote:Pardon me, Mr. Optms, but stealing? Stealing??? Everyone knows Phil was just holding Luke back last year. He was ready to play and contribute. And now with got Dirk's shot...Mike Brown will have no other choice. #startingsmallforward.

Walton is that you?!

Jay From LA wrote:
Nice try, Luke Walton

Sorry for the delayed response, I'm texting from a helicopter ambulance now...fed up with computers...first I fractured my right wrist trying to use this Mac mouse--why don't they just have two buttons?!-- and then I broke off, literally snapped off, my left index finger after trying to use this island keyboard--all with carpal tunnel from the J's I've been shooting and now this stretcher I'm on his fairing up my back spasms, which is disappointing because I've been strengthening my core.......