“Don’t pet a killer pitbull, you piss him off,” Shaquille O’Neal reveals tactics to motivate Kobe Bryant during Lakers days

Kobe Bryant needed to be pushed during his initial years. As such, the now famous Mamba Mentality was constructed with the help of Shaquille O'Neal.

“Don’t pet a killer pitbull, you piss him off,” Shaquille O’Neal reveals tactics to motivate Kobe Bryant during Lakers days

Shaquille O'Neal talks about agitating Kobe Bryant to bring the best out him (image via Twitter)

Everyone who is a basketball fan knows about the mentality the late great Kobe Bryant possessed. However, he wasn’t always like that, especially during his initial years in the league. His superstar teammate Shaquille O’Neal reveals a cunning tactic he used to bring out the best from the late Los Angeles Laker great.

O’Neal was a guest on the podcast From the Point hosted on Bleacher Report. Host Atlanta Hawks superstar Trae Young asked O’Neal about his best memory about his favorite player growing up, Kobe Bryant. O’Neal replied by saying that;

When you got a dog, you agitate him. When you got a killer pit bull you don't pet him, you piss him off to makes sure he stays a pit bull.
Shaquielle O’Neal via Bleacher Report

O’Neal suggested that he needed Bryant to be at his best. For that reason, O’Neal would push Bryant to be better.

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As per O’Neal, Kobe Bryant did not come into the league with the motivation and mentality he eventually became famous for. During the initial days, Bryant needed to be molded and pushed. O’Neal said he made Bryant do freshman-level things such as taking his bags etc. All of this was to motivate Bryant by telling him that he is not better than O’Neal.

O’Neal says, eventually it all paid off. Bryant wanted to be better than O’Neal and the erstwhile greatest player Michael Jordan. Pissing off Kobe Bryant was the best way to bring out the best in him. Bryant went on to possess that mentality, which he later referred to as the ‘Mamba Mentality.’

How did all that pushing from Shaquille O’Neal bring out the dog in Kobe Bryant?

Shaquille O’Neal probably did himself a favor by pushing his then-younger teammate during his initial years as a Laker. The first 3 seasons resulted in playoff exits. At that time Bryant was young and inexperienced. Eventually, it all came together starting from the 1999-2000 NBA season. A steadily improving Bryant put up superstar-level numbers for the season and the playoffs.

All that agitation led to Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal winning three titles together
All that agitation led to Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal winning three titles together (image via Twitter)

The Los Angeles Lakers led by the dynamic duo of O’Neal and Bryant went on to win 3 consecutive championships. Those seasons were some of the most dominant seasons by any duo in NBA history. Bryant went on to win two more championships on his own.

So, all is well that ends well. Shaquille O’Neal pushing his then-teenage teammate gave the best results they both could have dreamt of.

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