I think if Shaq was half as committed to the basketball trade as Kobe, their marriage would have worked. I love Shaq Diesel, but dude was seldom motivated and could get out of shape with the best of them. Drove Mamba nuts to watch him throw away his physical abilities.

I guess there is always more to the story, and maybe Shaq wasn't the greatest of teammates either, but just on the face of it and taking Kobe for what he said in his quote, to me it's just another example of "it's all about me". At the time most would have predicted another possible 2-3 titles if Shaq had stayed and Kobe made an effort to get along and play nice. So what I gather from this is he was willing to sacrifice winning so he could hold try to hold the mantle of "the man" insofar as the media is concerned. Now I know he eventually won a couple more titles, but that very easily could not have been the case. And the Lakers wouldn't have been assured to win any more titles had Shaq stayed, but they would have been the odds on favorites for a few years more than likely. Of course it's all hind site now so we all know how it played out, but no one at the time knew it would turn out the way it did. Just another example of why I'm not a Kobe fan, regardless of how great a player he is, and yes he is great.

You guys act like it's normal for the best two players on the planet at the time to team up together. Hardly ever happens. So it's not shocking that he wanted to get out of the shadow of Shaq.

 

It's always been like this for the most part, just that is used to be done through the draft instead of big trades. Kareem gets Magic, Robinson gets Duncan, Jordan gets Pippen, etc. Now the "running mate" historically may not have always been another top 5 player, but they were almost always a great player/hall of famer and one of the best players in the league during their time.

I guess there is always more to the story, and maybe Shaq wasn't the greatest of teammates either, but just on the face of it and taking Kobe for what he said in his quote, to me it's just another example of "it's all about me". At the time most would have predicted another possible 2-3 titles if Shaq had stayed and Kobe made an effort to get along and play nice. So what I gather from this is he was willing to sacrifice winning so he could hold try to hold the mantle of "the man" insofar as the media is concerned. Now I know he eventually won a couple more titles, but that very easily could not have been the case. And the Lakers wouldn't have been assured to win any more titles had Shaq stayed, but they would have been the odds on favorites for a few years more than likely. Of course it's all hind site now so we all know how it played out, but no one at the time knew it would turn out the way it did. Just another example of why I'm not a Kobe fan, regardless of how great a player he is, and yes he is great.

 

I think a better question is, was Kobe right? Was he right to gamble on himself? Not sure on the answer. With their eroding relationship due to clashing egos, I am not as certain they would have won 2 more titles the way it was going. Kobe's response to their fighting was to be angry/rude Kobe. Shaq's response was apathy and getting out of shape. I think both sides are to blame, but one thing I never questioned about Kobe was if he was ever ready to play. Shaq, I can't say the same.

I think if Shaq was half as committed to the basketball trade as Kobe, their marriage would have worked. I love Shaq Diesel, but dude was seldom motivated and could get out of shape with the best of them. Drove Mamba nuts to watch him throw away his physical abilities.

 

One of the most dedicated alpha males in NBA history and a guy who came into training camp 30 pounds overweight every year. Shocking that didn't workout.

I would venture to say the outcome would have been the same had Shaq played with insert name (Jordan, Bird, Magic, Thomas).

One of the most dedicated alpha males in NBA history and a guy who came into training camp 30 pounds overweight every year. Shocking that didn't workout.

 

Thank you!!!! But Kobe is the "me first" guy who puts himself above the team. Kobe work tirelessly to be the best he could be so his team could win titles. If Shaq had Kobe's work ethic and mentality he'd have been at worst the best big man to ever play the game. Shaq could have potentially been the greatest ever had he cared just a little more.