Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant are two of the best players ever to step foot on the hardwood. And when the legends joined forces, the Lakers became one of the most dominant teams in history. However, the tandem was not entirely responsible for bringing glory to Los Angeles. The Lakers’ ascendancy would not have been achievable without their coach, Phil Jackson.

He was a coach with an already impressive resume who designed a plan of attack for the Lakers that propelled them to 3 straight NBA titles. Shaq and Kobe had the world at their feet under Jackson’s tutelage. The Lakers decimated their opponents nightly, owing to Kobe’s freakish athleticism, Shaq’s herculean strength, and Jackson’s ironclad game plan.

Many may have faded memory of the Lakers’ tremendous stretch of success. Shaquille O’Neal, however, didn’t pass up the opportunity to remind fans of the dominant trifecta that ran the Lake Show. The big man shared a reel on his Instagram story, that featured him, Bryant, and Jackson flaunting their three-peat titles.

Looking at the story, it looks like Shaq misses his dominant time on the court alongside Kobe Bryant. The big man is hitting the gym these days and looking chiseled. Who knows, maybe someday O’Neal may tie up his shoes, put on his jersey and turn back the clock.

How dominant were Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant together?

Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant played solid basketball next to one another for their 8 years together in Los Angeles. They were overpowering on the floor and complemented each other’s game flawlessly.

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From high-flying lobs to slick passing and movement to relentless scoring from the tandem, the Lakers’ battle plan was designed to bury their opponents. No partnership has replicated their achievements and supremacy on the court since their indomitable days together. Shaq himself considers his tandem with Kobe to be the greatest of all time.

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As an already established star player with NBA Finals experience, Shaq brought his talents to the Lakers in 1996. His comrade, Kobe Bryant, looked shaky early in his career; however, owing to his “Mamba Mentality,” the shooting guard swiftly solidified himself as a star.

From 1996, when Shaq and Kobe paired, to 1999, the Lakers went 148-46. The duo, however, was not able to sustain this regular-season momentum in the playoffs. The Lake Show Express faltered in the playoffs, with a 14-16 postseason record over the course of these 3 seasons. What followed, however, was for the history books.

The tandem, in the 1999/2000 season, captured their first title of the historical three-peat. The LA Lakers won 4 games to 2 against the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers. Their first championship would add gasoline to an already raging inferno.

They went on to win the title in 2000/01, defeating the Allen Iverson-led Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 1. The Lakers went on to sweep the New Jersey Nets 4 games to none in the 2001/02 season, securing the historic three-peat.

The fearsome tandem wasn’t destined to last forever, as tensions between the two grew to the point where Shaq demanded a trade and took his talents to the Miami Heat.

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Both individuals, however, found success without each other as well, with Shaq winning 1 more title with the Heat and Kobe winning 2 with the Lakers. But their time together was the seed that grew into two legendary NBA careers.