I’m never playing with that M*th*r F*ck*r again: Kobe Bryant on Shaq

I’m never playing with that M*th*r F*ck*r again: Kobe Bryant on Shaq
Kobe and Shaq won 3 consecutive rings for Los Angeles Lakers

What if the spat between Shaq and Kobe Bryant had never happened? Would the Lakers dynasty be any different? Was a 4th ring possible? All these questions do arise when one talks about the feud between Kobe Bryant and Shaq after the 2004 NBA Finals. With a coach like Phil Jackson, Bryant and Shaq could have achieved a lot more. At least they had no reason not to. 

An incident occurred after Lakers’ 5th game loss to Detroit Pistons at the NBA Finals in 2004, Jeff Pearlman revealed that at a team function, Kobe told former teammate Kareem Rush, “I’m never playing with that M*****f***** again,’ talking about Shaq. 

Kobe Bryant despised Shaquille O’Neal 

After the feud with Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal left Lakers in 2004-05 to play for Miami Heat

 
Jeff Pearlman, who actually wrote a book on that Lakers team, recounted what went down between the two legends and stated, “[2004] was a weird season altogether. I mean, Kobe is flying back and forth to Eagle Colorado, Shaq wants his contract renegotiated. 

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“And Kobe was planning on leaving for the Clippers. He made it clear I’m not coming back if Shaq is back. There is no way I’m coming back if Shaq is back. 

“And Jerry Buss had to make a decision. He could have kept Shaq and Phil. I think Phil would have come back, or he could have kept Kobe. But I don’t think you could have kept all three.” 

Despite all of this who could firmly say what the Lakers could have achieved if the duo stayed longer. Most fanatics also don’t believe that Kobe and Shaq have buried their feud long time ago. But what the NBA and basketball viewers do cherish, is the dynamic chemistry of the pair while playing for the franchise while winning 3 consecutive rings.

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