Gary Payton reveals “Tragic” facts from the 2003-04 Lakers Campaign with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal

Gary Payton reveals “Tragic” facts from the 2003-04 Lakers Campaign with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal

Gary Payton, Kobe Bryant and shaquille O'Neal

Gary Payton had joined the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2003-04 season after the Lakers had completed a three-peat with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal at the helm, things after their three-peat win went downhill and Gary Payton gives an insight about how and what led to the Lakers downfall.

Gary Payton on Los Angeles Lakers downfall

Gary Payton

After the Los Angeles Lakers capped off a dominating 3 seasons in the NBA with a three-peat behind it, things were looking even brighter at the beginning of the 2003-04 season, Lakers had signed Gary Payton and Karl Malone to strengthen an already strong team and had an amazing roster, however, even though they reached the Finals, they were unable to win, defeated by the Detroit Pistons in the NBA finals.

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Gary Payton who was part of the Lakers side to lose the NBA finals revealed in an interview where said, “We knew that we could win. We knew we were going to be a super team. But things started going to the left. The first things were when Kobe got in trouble, that was one of our first signs of it was going to be tragic.” He went ahead and also straightened out feud that Shaquille O’Neal and Dr. Buss had, “Shaq got into it with Dr. Buss about the contract. He wanted to get a contract and Dr. Buss didn’t want him to give him a new contract. So they started feuding with each other, words start going back and forth. Then it was like, Shaq didn’t wanna play.”

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Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal collide

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal

The feud between Kobe and Shaq had already begun in the Three-peat run, even after it looked as if the two had amazing chemistry with each other like normal people had issues about each other. Shaquille O’Neal in a press conference had said that if the Lakers are going to lose, it will be all because of Kobe, it went so far that Shaquille O’Neal almost convinced the team to turn their backs on Kobe, even then Kobe tried playing as a team and was left unnoticed by O’Neal. It was in the 2000-01 season that the feud was official between the two, the following season it was turned down and not many problems were created. They did go on to win another championship.

In 2003, Kobe and Shaq played their final season together and Shaquille Left the Los Angeles Lakers for the Miami Heats, Kobe was thrown around rape Allegations in 2003, and during this time he said that if Shaquille O’Neal was to say something, he wouldn’t let it go silently. The Lakers however won the season by capping off a three-peat, but Kobe was fined as a result to talking to the press. After the season as over, the band had officially broken up which saw Shaquille O’Neal part ways with the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant.

Also read: Shaquille O’Neal admits ‘why’ he is jealous of LeBron James and…