Shaquille O’Neal reveals Kobe Bryant SACRIFICED Finals MVP for Lakers titles

Shaquille O'Neal is thankful to Kobe Bryant for helping him win his first three titles.

Shaquille O’Neal reveals Kobe Bryant SACRIFICED Finals MVP for Lakers titles

Shaquille O'Neal reveals Kobe Bryant sacrificed Finals MVPs for NBA titles

Shaquille O’Neal has always regarded Kobe Bryant as a player who had no comparison. Especially his famed ‘Mamba Mentality’, which O’Neal had a hand in building.

And now, the former Los Angeles Lakers big man has revealed that Bryant even sacrificed NBA Finals MVPs so that the Lakers won titles. He talked about it at length while sitting with Draymond Green on The Draymond Green Show.

He sacrificed, he did. All those Finals where he helped me win a championship, he damn sure could have easily got Finals MVP.
Shaquille O’Neal said

Shaquille O’Neal was clear that, at that time, he was the alpha dog of the Los Angeles Lakers. But he knew that Bryant was inching at the chance to be the main star. However, the pursuit of titles was more important. This led to head coach Phil Jackson devising a game plan that favored O’Neal to get the big numbers.

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However, Kobe Bryant did not protest it or try to make a point that he wanted his way. He knew that Phil Jackson had devised their plan to take advantage of each of their abilities. O’Neal would dominate the first three quarters. Then Bryant would take over in the fourth. It was clever, as the norm in the NBA back then was to activate the ‘Hack a Shaq’ play in the 4th quarter.

Therefore, in order to maximize each other’s efficiency, Bryant would take a back seat, allowing O’Neal to dominate the first 3 quarters. The Big Aristotle knows that Kobe Bryant could have easily won NBA Finals MVPs if he decided to get going throughout the game.

Shaquille O’Neal reveals Kobe Bryant’s killer mentality brought them their 1st NBA title

During the same segment, Shaquille O’Neal revealed how Kobe Bryant’s mamba mentality won them their 1st NBA title. He revealed a scenario to exemplify this.

My favorite game in Indiana was on our first championship where I fouled out. And I looked at him and was like 'If we lose this it's all my f**king fault'. I already know if we f**king lose this is gonna be my fault. I'm looking at Kobe, motherf**ker do me like that (relax hand gesture). He had an incredible 4 or 5 minutes like and then I knew then we was gonna win our first championship.
Shaquille O’Neal said

This was when O’Neal knew Kobe Bryant was going to take over and win their first NBA title. Despite him getting fouled out.

He had the mentality to not think about what the problem is. But rather, he knew he had to take the game over and win. That was an example of the Mamba Mentality that the late great superstar was famous for. The mentality still resonates with a lot of people to this day.

O’Neal is still grateful for Bryant taking over and helping him win those three NBA titles. Without Kobe Bryant becoming himself, O’Neal would have just one NBA title to his name, or would not be the superstar that he was known to be.

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