Shaquille O’Neal suggested that Kobe Bryant was the better player on the Lakers during their championship years. Speaking on the dynamic between Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown ahead of Game 2, O’Neal noted that they shouldn’t be concerned with useless titles and that when he stopped caring about these titles, he began winning championships.
“Yeah, I think if you’re worried about useless titles… When I was young I was worried about useless titles. But when I stopped worrying about useless titles, I started winning championships In my Laker runs, I was not the best player on the team. I knew that but I knew I was the most dominant.”
“So I knew my role, I knew what I had to do, I wasn’t worried about useless titles. So, if those two young gentlemen are worried about useless titles, who’s the best on the team, whose team it is, it will definitely affect them tonight. Jaylen has been playing well…”
O’Neal went on to say that Brown has been playing really well and that Tatum has done a good job in making sure everyone on the team gets involved. Their chemistry so far has worked well, but they need to keep their focus and not worry about who is the best on the team or whose team it is.
“This is the third time I’ve actually seen these guys play up close. And Jaylen Brown had a fabulous game. Tatum does a great job of getting everybody else involved… At this point in my career, I’m going to get to get it, man, I’m letting the world know.”
“He came out, he used his aggression, he let everybody get the ball which gives this guy, Jaylen Brown, room to operate. If these two young men are worried about useless titles, whose team it is and whose the best player, not only will it affect his game but they will lose this series.”
“In my Lakers' runs, I wasn't the best player on the team.”
– Shaq
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 9, 2024
While Shaq is showing respect to his former teammate and late friend, it is a farcical statement to suggest that Bryant was better than O’Neal at that point in his career. Shaq replaced Michael Jordan as the best player in the NBA and was the most dominant player in NBA history. His stats from those years speak for themselves – he was the best player on the Lakers during their championship years.
Shaquille O’Neal Was Unstoppable On The Lakers
This is not the first time Shaq has expressed this opinion. Recently, O’Neal spoke in an interview about how Kobe Bryant very easily could have won Finals MVP in any of their three championship wins.
“He (Bryant) sacrificed, he did,” O’Neal said. “Because all those Finals where he helped me win a championship, he damn sure could have easily got Finals MVP, but that was our plan. Big dog, you for the first three (quarters) and the fourth, I take over.
“My favorite game (was) in Indiana our first championship, where I fouled out,” O’Neal continued. “…. I already know if we f***ing lose this series, it’s going to be my fault. I’m looking at Kobe, motherf***** do me like (relax sign)… That motherf*****, he had like an incredible four or five — I knew then we was going to win our first championship.”
Shaquille O’Neal was an absolute beast during the Lakers’ championship years at the turn of the century.
In the three playoff runs where the Lakers won championships, Shaq averaged 29.9 points, 14.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.5 steals, and 2.4 blocks in 58 games. By comparison, Kobe Bryant averaged averaged 25.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.0 blocks in 57 games during those playoff runs.
His performances in the playoffs, and especially in the NBA Finals, were crucial in the Lakers’ title wins. O’Neal won three Finals MVPs for his excellent performances in the series. While it is admirable that Shaq wants to show respect to his former teammate, he shouldn’t forget why he is considered the most dominant player in NBA history.
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