Kobe Bryant picked up a different kind of assist. He called it a blessing and an honor.

The Los Angeles Lakers' star served as the witness to Chief Yeoman Lawrence A. Sivils' reenlistment to the U.S. Navy SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE yesterday at the Stan Sheriff Center on the University of Hawai'i campus in Honolulu.

Sivils, from Louisville, Ky., has spent the past 19 years in the Navy — the last three stationed at nearby Pearl Harbor.

About a month ago, Sivils sent the Lakers an e-mail requesting Bryant's participation in the reenlistment ceremony. To his surprise, he was contacted last week by Lakers public relations director John Black, who told him Bryant would be honored to take part.

"I knew they were coming here for training camp," Sivils said. "He is my favorite basketball player — smart, intelligent. And he's a good person. For Kobe to accept my invitation is greatly appreciated."

The brief ceremony was delayed for more than an hour because of a long Lakers practice. Bryant, wearing practice gear, shared the stage with Sivils and his wife, Shelonda, 9-year-old daughter, Aaliyah, and 6-year-old son, Lawrence Jr.

The ceremony began with the 40-year-old Sivils receiving an honorable discharge certificate, as is the custom before reenlistment, which followed immediately.

"I could join the Lakers basketball team," Sivils said of his brief period as a civilian. "I've got Kobe here today."

Then, Sivils said: "I'm ready to rejoin for three more years. I love my country. I love to support my country."

When the ceremony ended, Sivils said: "I appreciate you all coming and Mr. Kobe Bryant for accepting my invitation."

Bryant seemed sincerely moved.

"I'm so honored. It was a blessing and an honor for me to be here," he said. "He's helping to protect our country. It's a chance for me to give back. I'm deeply honored to be here. It goes beyond words. To request my presence to be here, it's unbelievable.

"To be a part of it, to see his family, his wife, you can see how special this is."

KNICKS

CURRY CLEARED TO PLAY; JOINS TEAM FOR PRACTICE

Eddy Curry was glad to be a basketball player again and not a patient.

Curry officially joined the New York Knicks yesterday after a team of doctors hired by the club cleared him to play. An NBA cardiologist also reviewed the test results and signed off on Curry's return to practice.

"I'm more worried about breaking a finger," Curry said. "I'm not worried about my heart."

Curry was traded to the Knicks by the Chicago Bulls earlier this week, more than six months after the 22-year-old center had an irregular heartbeat that caused him to miss the final 13 games of last season and the playoffs.

Bulls general manager John Paxson asked Curry to take a DNA test, something the player refused, he said, because it would not be completely accurate.

New York didn't demand Curry take a DNA test as Chicago had. Curry balked at the Bulls request, saying it violated his privacy.

The 6-foot-11 center, who spent his first four NBA seasons with the Bulls, took the court last night and practiced with his new team at the College of Charleston.

"Right now, I'm extremely happy," said Curry, went through several five-man full court drills and looked a little out of shape.