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HBO's Real Sports returns Tuesday with an interesting segment on how Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's aloof nature as a player has stymied his attempt to land an NBA coaching job. During the segment, Abdul-Jabbar related his brief stint tutoring Michael Olowokandi with the Los Angeles Clippers.

"Michael Olowokandi did not feel he needed to learn anything from me. ... learning how to do a simple thing like set a pick," Abdul-Jabbar said. "He just wasn't interested in listening to what I had to say."

Olowokandi, now with Minnesota, has a different view. "Everybody knows that was more of a publicity stunt with Kareem there," Olowokandi told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "He didn't show up half the time, and when he did show up, he worked with all the big men, not just me."

FREE KOBE: Kobe Bryant plans to be a free agent next summer after opting out of his current deal with the Lakers, although he says his preference is to remain in Los Angeles.

But will it be with his current team or with the Clippers?

The Lakers' co-tenants at the Staples Center will be one of the few teams with enough salary-cap space to offer Bryant anything close to what Lakers owner Jerry Buss can offer. And there's a school of thought that says Bryant will want to remain in a large market if he leaves the Lakers and signs elsewhere.

"I've never really been a free agent before, so I'd kind of like to see what's out there. Now, it doesn't mean that I want to leave the Lakers. You know my preference is to stay here," Bryant told ABC.

QUOTABLE: "He is a tremendous person - forget about basketball. That's the thing that gives you a sick feeling, to know that he was fired just a couple days before Christmas. I think it's another one of those things our league has a tendency to do that shows you how little respect they have for people."

Utah coach Jerry Sloan, on the firing of Knicks president Scott Layden.

HERE, GATOR, GATOR: New Jersey center Mikki Moore owns three baby alligators, three albino Burmese pythons (12, 10, and 9 feet) and a Rottweiler. He keeps them all in an Atlanta condo with assistance from a pet shop owner.

Quick hits San Antonio gets its turn in the ABC spotlight Saturday when the Spurs host Philadelphia. It remains to be seen if 76ers guard Allen Iverson, who is battling a sore knee, will play.

Somebody has to finish with the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Two likely suspects meet Saturday when Indiana hosts New Orleans.

Guard Jay Williams, seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, and the Bulls are in buyout negotiations. Both parties would like to avoid a potential lawsuit about whether Williams violated his contract by riding the motorcycle.

Philadelphia rookie Kyle

Korver is building a reputation with his 3-point shooting. His resemblance to an actor already has given him notoriety. After Korver went 5-for-5 on 3-pointers against Boston, Paul Pierce was asked his opinion. "You mean Ashton Kutcher?" he said. "He was unbelievable."Insider