The first point in the career of the superstar reborn came like the last one had: at the free throw line. But the rest of Kobe Bryant's season debut betrayed that symbolic continuity.
Asked to grade his performance in a 106-94 loss to the Toronto Raptors, the notoriously critical superstar gave himself an "F" before a reporter could even finish the question.
He finished with nine points in 28 minutes, but shot just 2 of 9 from the field. Eight turnovers, of the Lakers' 19, will particularly eat at Bryant, who said he intended to watch film all night.