Lakers guard Aaron McKie has formed a foundation to help the development of Philadelphia-area children.

The AM8 Foundation will hold community activities and family oriented events and outings that will expose children to positive role models, encourage teamwork, reinforce the importance of education and teach respect for others.

"I am Philadelphia through and through," said McKie, a former Temple standout. "That's why this foundation is so important to me. I wanted to find the right way to give back to the city that has been so good to me, and I think that being actively involved in improving opportunities for children and families is the best way to go about it."

Kobe Bryant has kept a close eye on Team USA in its training for the World Championships, calling Carmelo Anthony the other day to leave a voice mail with the message, ``Let's go."

Bryant will be watching the tournament intently as he continues rehab on his right knee.

Kobe Bryant is continuing to rehab his surgically repaired right knee.

``The knee is coming along extremely well," said Bryant. ``We're doing a lot of strengthening exercises now. I'm not on my feet yet, as far as running and doing squats. But I'm strengthening the quad and things of that nature.

``I can actually stand up and bend my knee. I've got normal range. I can walk normally and go up steps, things of that nature."

Kobe Bryant said over the weekend that he expects to be ready for the beginning of the Lakers' training camp.

"By then I should be full bore, completely healed up, strong, ready to go," Bryant said.

Here's where it stands now:

"I can walk fine, go up steps fine," he said. "The pain in my knee is gone. What was causing the trouble, they went in there and took it out. Scar tissue was impinging the kneecap. It was stopping its mobility, so when I bent down it was catching my knee. I didn't have full range."

Los Angeles Lakers' All-Star guard Kobe Bryant announced Thursday he has offered eight college students a chance to go to Italy and discover the country where he spent part of his childhood.

"It's really exciting for us, to have the opportunity to do something like this," said Bryant, referring to the Vivo Foundation that he started. The foundation's first program, called Vivo Del Mondo, will organize a nine-day, all-expense paid trip to Italy for eight black and Hispanic college students.

Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant will spend another Christmas together.

The former teammates will meet on December 25 for the third straight season, as the NBA champion Heat host the Lakers in the lone game on the holiday.

That was one of the highlights of the 2006-07 NBA schedule, released by the league Tuesday.

The Devean George wait continued for the Mavericks in their attempt to sign the free-agent forward, according to the Dallas Morning News.

George's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said he continued to talk with the Mavericks and "a bunch" of other teams. He said a decision was probable by week's end.

The Mavericks are believed to be offering George a one-year deal worth about $2 million. President of basketball operations Donnie Nelson confirmed ongoing negotiations with George, but declined further comment.