Shaquille O’Neal recently disclosed a unique motivational approach he employed with his former Lakers teammate, Kobe Bryant. In a candid conversation on Trae Young’s podcast, “From the Point,” Shaq admitted to intentionally agitating Kobe during their Lakers era. Despite being one of the greatest duos in NBA history, Shaq and Kobe’s relationship was often marked by on-court success but off-court tension.
“All the stuff I do now with players. I did with him. When you got a dog, you agitate him. He doesn’t respond to nice. He responds like, ‘This my sh*t.’ And I knew it ate him up a lot but that was my tactic to keep him going.”
“You got a killer pitbull, you don’t pet him. You piss him off and make sure he stays that pitbull… He wanted to be great. He wanted to be better than me. He wanted to be than Mike and it just kept going.”
Shaq explains how he motivated Kobe 😤
(via From the Point by @TheTraeYoung) pic.twitter.com/fEkklJfC6L
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 19, 2024
Shaq revealed that he deliberately provoked Kobe to keep him hungry and motivated. Referring to Kobe as a “Pitbull,” Shaq emphasized that being nice wouldn’t have worked with the fiercely competitive Bryant. According to the Hall of Famer, Kobe was particularly irked when Shaq referred to the Lakers as his team, pushing him to develop a killer mentality.
In addition to psychological tactics, Shaq shared anecdotes about Kobe’s early years in the league. Being drafted at just 18 years old, Kobe had to be molded into a superstar. Shaq, with his larger-than-life presence, subjected Kobe to the rookie treatment, even asking him to carry his bags to create a challenging environment that fueled Kobe’s determination.
Despite the challenging dynamic, Shaq’s unconventional approach yielded positive results. The Lakers, led by Shaq and Kobe, made the playoffs every year they played together, reaching four NBA Finals and winning three championships during their iconic three-peat.
Their dominance as a duo remains unmatched, and even though their relationship had its ups and downs, they eventually settled their differences, providing fans with unforgettable memories of their time together on the court.
What If Kobe Bryant Left The Lakers Instead Of Shaquille O’Neal?
In the fantastical realm of extreme hypotheticals, let’s delve even deeper into the cosmic “what if” scenario where Kobe Bryant, rather than Shaquille O’Neal, bids farewell to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Picture the early 2000s Lakers without the Black Mamba. Kobe, driven by an insatiable desire for new challenges, opts for a change of scenery. Perhaps it’s a longing for individual stardom or a quest to prove himself beyond the formidable shadow of Shaq. The decision sends shockwaves through the NBA landscape, altering the course of basketball history.
Without Kobe’s transcendent scoring ability and iconic work ethic, the Lakers face an existential challenge. Shaq, the indomitable force in the paint, continues to impose his dominance on opponents, but the Lakers lose the one-two punch that defined their championship era. The team’s identity shifts from the Kobe and Shaq show to a Shaq-centric powerhouse.
Kobe, now donning a new jersey, becomes the focal point of another franchise. The NBA experiences a seismic shift as teams scramble to build around the enigmatic shooting guard. The league is treated to a different narrative, one where Kobe’s career unfolds in an alternate setting, bringing a unique blend of scoring prowess and relentless competitiveness to a different city.
As the years unfold, Kobe’s legacy takes on a distinct hue. Perhaps he leads a different team to multiple championships, elevating them to perennial contenders. Meanwhile, the Lakers, guided by Shaq’s dominance, remain a force in the West but face the perennial question of what could have been with the Kobe-Shaq tandem intact.
Injuries, a cruel reality in any NBA timeline, play their role. Kobe and Shaq navigate their respective careers, each facing unique challenges and triumphs. The league witnesses a parallel universe where two of the greatest players of their generation forge distinct paths, forever altering the narrative of basketball history.
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