Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal formed one of the deadliest duos in NBA history. They’re the only modern-era duo to have won a three-peat. They did so during their years together in the LA Lakers. Shaq was the number one star during Kobe’s rise, but there was a real debate about which one was better towards the end.
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This debate meant that the air in the locker room was rife with competition. Kobe and Shaq both wanted to be number one, so their relationship suffered. Shaq has now revealed the reality of his relationship with Kobe.
“Were we best friends? No. Did we respect the hell out of each other? 1,000%. Do I wish we could’ve talked every day and hung out every day? Yes.”
Shaq revealed how this relationship didn’t hurt their on-court success. “There’s a myth that you have to be best friends to win championships,. We only have to have one thing, and that’s respect.
“If he goes to the hole with four people coming, he’s dropping it off to me. When I get double or triple-teamed, I look for him first. He knows I need him. I’m damn sure he knows he needs me.
“I was just hurt I would never be able to tell him anything ever again.”
.@SHAQ kept it real when speaking on his relationship with Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/bpylF1aFFQ
— ESPN (@espn) August 24, 2020
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal
Bryant and Shaq started with the Lakers in the same year. Shaq was traded from Orlando while Kobe was drafted. Although both the stars were on a learning curve, Shaq had a more immediate impact, being the elder one.
The team would soon contend at the Championship level. However, they had to wait for Kobe to ascend for that. They won three championships consecutively from 2000 to 2002.
However, the streak ended with a loss against the Spurs in 2003 and then Detroit in 2004. That Championship loss was the catalyst behind Shaq’s trade to Miami and their decision to build around Kobe. Admittedly, the tactic worked out well as the Lakers won two more titles with Kobe in 2009 and 2010.
Both men took multiple shots at each other over the years, but their relationship seemed to have improved after Kobe’s retirement. It must have devastated Shaq to have lost the man his success was synonymous with, in such a cruel and unfortunate way.
