“Go do something with your small a** company!” Shaquille O’Neal BLOCKED $200 million worth entrepreneur for controversial answer from Kobe Bryant

The rift between Shaquille O’Neal and Patrick Bet-David, a prominent figure in the entrepreneurship sector, emerged from an interview Bet-David conducted with Kobe Bryant. During this interview, Bet-David posed a question to Bryant about Shaq’s potential legacy and his work ethic. Bryant’s response, suggesting that Shaq could have been the greatest player of all time if he had Kobe’s work ethic, apparently did not sit well with O’Neal.

Shaq’s reaction was swift and direct. He reached out to Bet-David, expressing his displeasure through a direct message. Shaq criticized the question as “stupid” and advised Bet-David to focus on his “small a** company.” This led to Shaq blocking Bet-David on social media, a blockade that lasted for about three years.

Here’s what Patrick Bet-David had to say about his beef with NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal:

Shaq blocked me for three years. I was blocked for... two and a half years. Shaq DM'd me immediately and he says, what kind of a stupid a** question is that. Why would you ask a question like that? Go do something [yourself] with your small a** company."

Despite the initial fallout, the situation eventually took a positive turn. Bet-David managed to secure an interview with Shaq, providing an opportunity for both men to address their differences and engage in a candid conversation. This dialogue led to a resolution of their differences and the lifting of the three-year block.

Bet-David, known for his strategic approach to business planning, had used ambitious and creative methods over a decade to land the interview with Kobe Bryant. In 2010, he predicted in a video that he would one-day interview Bryant and worked towards this goal by interviewing significant figures from his life, like James Worthy and Magic Johnson.

The impact of Kobe Bryant’s “Mamba Mentality”

Kobe Bryant’s renowned work ethic not only shaped his career but also influenced those around him, including his teammates. Bet-David highlighted how Bryant’s attitude and discipline elevated the standards for everyone he worked with.

Shaq and Kobe led the Lakers to a three-peat from 2000 to 2002, and despite their on-court synergy, they became known for one of the most infamous feuds in NBA history. The media highly publicized and frequently discussed this rivalry.

However, they clarified that observers often misconstrued their competitive nature as animosity. There was some tension nonetheless, and O’Neal still regrets letting it linger to this day, after Kobe’s demise in a tragic helicopter accident on 26th January 2020. He told People this:

I’ll never get to see Kobe again, in real life, forever... we both should have called. [I thought], ‘We’re both going to get old. We’ll both be at the 50-year Lakers anniversary... little things [got in the way]. Call your mom, call your brother, call the homeboy you used to party with in college,... forever is a long time.

The incident between Shaq and Bet-David underscores the complexities and dynamics that can arise in the world of high-profile interviews. It also highlights the importance of open communication and understanding in resolving conflicts, even among celebrities and successful entrepreneurs.

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