While the feud between Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant was one of the reasons for the former to leave Los Angeles Lakers, the team had apparently told Shaq that he might have to leave if they did not win the 2004 Finals.
Shaq discussed it in a recent podcast interview. He drew parallels to what had happened with him and what he saw in the documentary “The Last Dance”. ESPN’s docuseries on Michael Jordan, a 10-episode narrative, aired its first episode on Sunday. Shaq said that prior to the 2004 finals, Shaq was told that the team would undergo a few changes if they were to lose the series.
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“The same thing that was going on in this documentary (The Last Dance) was going on with me,” said O’Neal. “It was told to me that if we don’t win the series, I’m out of there.”
“Yes, from somebody upstairs in the office, ‘Hey, if you don’t win this series, they’re looking to make changes.’ I knew once we lost that it was time for me to do something else.”
The Lakers eventually lost the finals. Regardless, the feud between Shaq and Kobe had left many believing that one of them moving out was inevitable.
Both Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant had successful careers
Shaq moved to Miami Heat after achieving a three-peat with the Lakers. Incredibly, he was also the finals MVP on all three occasions. He also won the regular-season MVP award when the Lakers’ run of consecutive titles started.
O’Neal joined Miami Heat in 2004 and won a title with them two years later. He ended his career in 2011 after short stints with Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics.
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Shaquille O”Neal #34 and Kobe Bryant #8 of the Los Angeles Lakers walk to the bench during a time-out in game five of the NBA Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers at the First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (IMAGE Credit: Ezra O. Shaw/Allsport)
Bryant, on the other hand, stayed with the Lakers for his entire career. The Lakers struggled in the season immediately after O’Neal’s exit, but soon recovered. The team won two consecutive titles in 2009 and 2010 with Bryant winning the finals MVP on both occasions. He won the MVP award in 2008. An 18-time NBA All-Star, Bryant played his final season in 2016. Four years later, he passed away in a tragic helicopter crash that took seven other lives that included his daughter Gianna.
In August, Kobe Bryant will get his rightful in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
