When the Los Angeles Lakers won their third consecutive championship thanks to Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, it’s strange to think that people believed there was a conflicted relationship between them.
Much like the Boston Celtics duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, it seemed like they couldn’t coexist. It’s not always easy to get two stars together to share the spotlight – and O’Neal recently revealed a glimpse inside to his relationship with Bryant.
“I used to say things to make him angry on purpose because I knew that’s when he would play his best,” O’Neal said on “The OG’s Podcast.” “I would say things like, ‘You’re not Michael Jordan,’ or ‘They’ve got this kid LeBron (James) in Cleveland who’s better than you.’”
O’Neal’s taunting didn’t help the two teams stay together. Yet it may have helped Bryant perform at his best. The Black Mamba became one of the league’s most iconic figures after escaping the great man’s shadow. Over time, his game, personality and mindset have made him arguably as influential as Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan.
Of course, the greatness of Jordan and James cannot be denied.
Jordan’s ability to win six championships while going undefeated in the NBA Finals overshadows even his own exceptional production. To this day, he is the gold standard when players talk about what kind of careers they have. James’ continued dominance puts him in conversations with players like former Los Angeles Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Going 4-6 in the NBA Finals has its pros and cons. Still, he is the most complete player the NBA has ever seen.
The fact that Bryant is in the company of Jordan and James is telling. Whether or not he’s in the GOAT conversation, he’s the people’s champion. O’Neal, while he couldn’t make the matchup work with the 18-time All-Star, may have had a hand in that achievement.
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