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NEW ORLEANS – Kobe Bryant was one of a handful of NBA players who traveled during All-Star weekend to New Orleans neighborhoods still in need of new, structurally sound media appearances.

Bryant braved a light rain for nearly an hour to put on his work gloves and help give the decimated city a photo shoot it desperately needed.

Bryant, who hopes the pictures taken in the devastated neighborhoods with impoverished youths will raise the nation’s awareness of the NBA star’s benevolence, said just seeing the smiles on the faces of the city’s residents when he arrived was worth the four-mile limousine ride from his Ritz-Carlton penthouse.

“It’s great to help out just however I can,” said Bryant. “This city is obviously very special to me, being from Los Angeles.”

Other players helping out in New Orleans during the weekend were Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets, who spoke to children who lost their homes in Hurricane Katrina about purchasing Adidas merchandise, and Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics, who helped area youth organize an effort to pose for a picture with him.