Shaquille O’Neal On Kobe Bryant Saying He Wasn’t In Shape To Start Season: “Did I Come Into Camp In Shape? I Never Did.”

Shaquille O'Neal responded to Kobe Bryant's old criticism of Shaq not being in shape when a season started.

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Credit: Fadeaway World

Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant formed the greatest 1-2 punch in NBA history. They three-peated on the Lakers as teammates and won the title even after splitting up, with Shaq winning one while Kobe won two. There is a lot of basketball heritage associated with these 2 players and for good reason.

The Shaq-Kobe era brought success to LA but didn’t end well, with Shaq leaving the team acrimoniously in 2004. While he and Kobe repaired their relationship over the years, they didn’t see eye-to-eye most of the time. Shaq didn’t live by the hardworking Mamba Mentality that Kobe espoused and recently explained why he wouldn’t bother with coming into the season in prime shape, a criticism Kobe had levied against him before.

“I wouldn’t say valid, because, I always ask people this. You didn’t come into camp in shape. What year are you talking about? What big man did more than I did? Nobody. Which goes back to what I said, my willpower. I got beat up all year. I never came into camp in shape because one, I gotta rest and I gotta pay my family back. I missed school plays, they don’t wanna hear when the season is over that you gotta go work out. It don’t matter how you start, it matter how you finish. What’s crazy is that the times I did come in shape, I got swept.” (h/t NBA On TNT)

Shaq was a legend but he could have possibly been greater if he had the same commitment to his body we saw players like Kobe have and now we see players like LeBron James and Steph Curry have.


Could Shaquille O’Neal Have Achieved More?

Well, Shaq could have achieved less even if he was in shape and didn’t have the right pieces around him. As he said himself, the years he came into the season in shape were also the years he got swept. Shaq had the luxury of using the season to get into shape because a player like Kobe Bryant was sharing the floor with him.

Whether Shaq would have had more or less accolades to his name is immaterial because we know what he achieved. He is arguably one of the greatest centers in league history and a business mogul. He probably looks back on his career with a smile and doesn’t lament the fact he skipped 6 AM workouts in the offseason. 

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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