“The FBI came to my room the next morning…” Shaquille O’Neal recalls humiliating Kobe Bryant which got him in trouble with Jerry West and Magic Johnson

Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant's relationship was far from perfect, and most definitely strained.

“The FBI came to my room the next morning…” Shaquille O’Neal recalls humiliating Kobe Bryant which got him in trouble with Jerry West and Magic Johnson

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal (Via Sports Illustrated Vault)

Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant – the duo was more than just a partnership on the court. It was a relationship where the ball switched often from one court to the other. From a jolly time to enemies, it was unpredictable. One is aware of the ups and downs between Shaq and Kobe, from their hatred for each other to those days of glory at the Los Angeles Lakers.

But during that period of time, both shared some memorable moments—moments Shaq now loves recalling. In a recent episode of The Big Podcast with Shaq, Shaquille O’Neal shared a rather interesting story from his playing days. And it wasn’t just a normal action that led a to small consequence.

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Shaq said in his podcast, Big Pod, recalling the time when Shaq faced consequences from FBI for ragging Kobe:

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I hazed Kobe [Bryant] one time, and it’s like the FBI came to my room the next morning and it like, ‘He off limits.'
Shaquille O’Neal said

Lou Williams, who was also present in that episode of the podcast, was left in awe and shock when Shaq told the story. And the reason for him to do that was because of the reception, or rather, the hazing he himself received when he arrived at the Los Angeles Lakers. As a rookie, he was hazed to carry bags, which he swiftly refused for the older ones. And that’s when, later, he decided to try it on the icon himself, Kobe Bryant.

The difficult friendship between Shaq-Kobe

The Shaq-Kobe feud was a widely recognized relationship in the NBA. Two icons of the game, but both had their fair share of disagreements with each other during their time at the Los Angeles Lakers. From winning three consecutive NBA championships from 2000 to 2002 with their rivalry in play to being brother even after life, their story has come a long way.

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal (Via The Mirror)
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal (Via The Mirror)

From personal differences to disliking each other’s growth, it was a match made in hell during that period. So much so that the heated moment ultimately resulted in a trade that sent Shaquille O’Neal to the Miami Heat. While this certainly marked an end to their partnership with the LA Lakers, this didn’t stop them from giving each other a chance to become good friends.

Since then the pair has been seen as one of the most inseparable duos. Even after Kobe’s death in a tragic helicopter crash, Shaq holds immense respect for his brother and his family. And while Kobe Bryant’s absence still feels like a huge gap, it’s these stories like from Shaq that give us a reason to smile at both of their antics.

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