The next Michael Jordan? It probably won't be the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant, who, given the chance, may be the closest talent to Jordan to come into the NBA in the last decade.

"He's one of those players who can be one of the best to ever play the game," Lakers teammate Eddie Jones says of Bryant, 19, who'll be in the United Center Wednesday night.

O'Neal actually is the reason Bryant may not be able to reach the levels of Jordan. O'Neal has been troubled with an abdominal injury, which is a pain not only in the Lakers' stomach, but also their heart. No matter how entertaining and talented Bryant is, and no matter how solid Jones and Nick Van Exel have been playing, O'Neal remains the best and most dominant player on the Lakers. He usually can be found near the basket, with the spotlight clearly on him.