Prometheus 6

I did not forget the plural in the title, btw.

As he did several times last season in hitting buzzer-beating, game-winning shots, Kobe Bryant let the suspense build to a crescendo and then swooped in to save the Los Angeles Lakers.

With the Lakers fearing his defection to the Los Angeles Clippers, Bryant, this summer's most coveted free agent, announced today that he would remain with the club he has starred for since entering the National Basketball Association out of high school eight years ago.

Bryant's decision to accept the Lakers' seven-year $136.4 million contract offer enabled the franchise to avoid what would have been perhaps the most embarrassing dismantling of a team in N.B.A. history.

Over the last month, while awaiting word on Bryant's decision, the Lakers waved goodbye to Phil Jackson, the league's most successful coach, and traded away Shaquille O'Neal, the league's most dominant player. Speculation was widespread that the moves were made to accommodate Bryant, the 25-year-old swingman who longed to be the team's brightest star, even as Bryant flirted with the idea of joining the Clippers, the Denver Nuggets, the New York Knicks and the Chicago Bulls.

"Kobe has informed us he's going to stay with the Lakers and sign a new contract," said John Black, Lakers spokesman.