by JEFF EISENBERG, THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE , The Press Enterprise

Vladimir Radmanovic was loudly booed upon entering the game late in the first quarter, perhaps a sign Lakers fans haven't forgiven him for claiming he separated his shoulder slipping on a patch of ice in 2007 rather than admitting it was a snowboarding accident.

"It sounded like there were some split opinions about me coming back," said Radmanovic, who scored 15 points in the Lakers' 91-87 victory. "That's the reality of life. Some people are going to love you. Some people aren't going to love you. I don't really mind it."

Radmanovic requested a trade last season because he grew frustrated with sporadic playing time in a system he felt never offered him the freedom to showcase other facets of his game besides spot-up shooting. The deal provided Radmanovic a fresh start, delivered Shannon Brown and Adam Morrison to LA and saved the Lakers money they used to re-sign Lamar Odom.

Radmanovic criticized Phil Jackson's triangle offense upon arriving in Charlotte, telling the Charlotte Observer that creates scoring opportunities for Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol but "doesn't give a role player much opportunity."

Jackson didn't miss a chance to get in one last jab at Radmanovic.

"They haven't forgotten the slip on the sidewalk at Starbucks in Park City," Jackson said. "They don't forget things like that here."

HIGH-RENT DISTRICT

Tony Gaffney did a double take before the game when he walked into the Lakers locker room at Staples Center for the first time and noticed who was sitting in the locker next to his.

"It was surreal," the undrafted rookie free agent said. "I'm the only person in the world who has a locker next to Kobe."

Gaffney, a native of Massachusetts, admits he was a lifelong Boston Celtics fan before the Lakers picked him up this summer.

"I'm a Lakers fan for life," he said.

Also: Gasol (hamstring) and Luke Walton (sore back) missed their second straight game. Lamar Odom also sat out as a result of a lower right leg contusion. All three will likely sit out again tonight against the Clippers.

Reach Jeff Eisenberg at 951-368-9357 or jeisenberg@PE.com

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