Bryant shrugs off criticism from Jackson’s new book

SAN DIEGO – Kobe Bryant is shrugging off criticism of him by former Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson.

“He’s just trying to sell books. I’ll just leave it at that,” Bryant said Wednesday at the Lakers’ training camp at the University of San Diego. “I wish him the best at whatever he’s doing now. I have responsibilities here, and that’s what I have to take care of. That’s it.”

The diary of the 2003-04 season, titled “The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul,” Jackson said he no longer wanted coach Bryant.

The book will be released this month, but an excerpt will be published in next week’s issue of Los Angeles magazine. The Los Angeles Times printed excerpts from the magazine article on Tuesday.

Jackson wrote he became so frustrated with Bryant that he told general manager Mitch Kupchak in January: “I won’t coach this team next year if he is still here. He won’t listen to anyone. I’ve had it with this kid.”