Lakers and Jackson fined over `witch hunt' statement

The Los Angeles Lakers and Phil Jackson were fined US$50,000 apiece by the NBA on Thursday after the coach said the league was conducting a "witch hunt" against Kobe Bryant.

Bryant recently received two one-game suspensions this season for striking players in the face after attempting a shot. The league retroactively assessed Bryant with a flagrant foul for an elbow to Philadelphia's Kyle Korver last week, a play that didn't draw a foul.

NBA executive vice president Stu Jackson said the fine was for Jackson's "public criticisms of the NBA."

Bryant, speaking in Denver before the fine was levied, said he appreciated Jackson standing up for him.

"He was defending his player," Bryant said at a shootaround for a game against the Nuggets.

Jackson clearly was upset with the NBA's actions.

"It shouldn't even have been a flagrant one," Jackson said on Tuesday. "They have a witch hunt going on. It's nuts."

Bryant said the suspensions won't change his shooting style. He's second in the league in scoring behind Denver's Carmelo Anthony.

"You have to be careful about how you play the game," he said. "Go out there and play hard and do the best you can. Hopefully you don't get suspended or anything like that."