“Threw that mother**ker too high!” Shaquille O’Neal reveals ICONIC Kobe Bryant assist dunk almost failed

Shaquille O'Neal and the late. Kobe Bryant are one of the biggest names in NBA.

“Threw that mother**ker too high!” Shaquille O’Neal reveals ICONIC Kobe Bryant assist dunk almost failed

Shaq almost missed catching the lob from Kobe, but threw it down anyway. The dunk was a nail in the coffin for the Portland Trail Blazers (AP)

Shaquille O’Neal took a trip down memory lane to one of his most standout Los Angeles Lakers moments – the time when Kobe Bryant’s assist was nearly a no-go. Picture it: a nail-biter against the Portland Trail Blazers. Kobe lobs the ball to Shaq, a move now iconic for showcasing their on-court chemistry and the Lakers’ prowess. But, as Shaq reveals, it was almost a flop.

Flashback to the do-or-die Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference Finals. O’Neal, with a laugh, recalls that the alley-oop was way too high. It was a gamble, but Shaq snagged it, scoring a basket that didn’t just clinch the game but also became a symbol of the Lakers’ grit and team spirit. It was the turning point, catapulting the Lakers into the Shaq-Kobe golden era.

YouTube video

Shaquille O’Neal tells Trae Young what was going through his head in that moment:

FS Video
And that play that everybody talks about, he crossed Pippen up and he threw it up. And he threw the motherf**ker up too high... I'm stopping time, if we miss this and we lose, it's going to be my fault. F**k that! go get that motherf**ker, caught that motherf**ker, threw it down.

The lob wasn’t just an epic sports highlight, it was the raw, unfiltered magic of Shaq and Kobe Bryant’s alliance in action. Their bond was complex, yet it sparked some of the NBA’s most unforgettable plays.

The confidence that massive play instilled in Shaq inspired him to aim for forty in his first NBA finals game. And he did deliver, scoring 43 points and grabbing 19 rebounds. This moment and the subsequent victory make this championship Shaq’s favorite one.

Shaq regrets the over-stretched feud with Kobe

Basketball giant Shaquille O’Neal admitted he wishes he’d stayed in touch with Kobe after their Lakers days. The pair’s magic on the court and becoming champions thrice from 2000 to 2002, had a more complicated, distant vibe to it. Shaq’s remorse hit hard, especially after Kobe’s tragic helicopter crash in 2020.

Kobe and Shaq completed their three-peat together during the latter's time with the Lakers (AP)
Kobe and Shaq completed their three-peat together during the latter’s time with the Lakers (AP)

DJ Shaq dedicated parts of his set to his late friend and urged the crowd to light up their phones in Kobe’s memory. A huge Lakers-colored banner with Kobe’s numbers, 8 and 24, waved as a silent, powerful testament to their bond. Shaq’s dedication shone through – he gave all event proceeds to the crash victims’ families and the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Foundation.

Looking back at their well-known feud, as detailed in his 2011 book “Shaq Uncut”, O’Neal wished either of them had stepped in. The feud, once a major Lakers storyline, became a source of regret for Shaq, especially after losing Kobe. Shaq’s words were heavy with emotion: 

I'll never see Kobe again, not in this life. We should've picked up the phone. Both of us.

This mix of regret and longing for a missed reconciliation paints a bittersweet story of two of basketball’s absolute greats. Stories like this remind us of how short life can be, and of the importance of friends and family.

In Case You Missed: