The NBA playoffs have concluded, and as the basketball action winds down, it provides fans with more time to delve into basketball history, particularly a moment when Shaquille O’Neal slapped Kobe Bryant during a pick-up game in the midst of the 1998 NBA lockout.
Shaquille O’Neal later formed a formidable duo in the NBA with Kobe Bryant that had tangible results to show, notwithstanding their feud. O’Neal has even compared his partnership with Kobe to what the NBA will see in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard in the coming season.
Shaq’s shocking move against Kobe Bryant in ’98
In a memorable incident during the 1998 NBA lockout, Shaquille O’Neal delivered a shocking move by slapping his then-teammate Kobe Bryant during a heated pick-up game. This altercation, detailed in veteran author Jeff Pearlman’s book, unfolded when O’Neal and Bryant, who were already entangled in a bitter feud, found themselves on opposing teams at the same Los Angeles gym.
The dispute between O’Neal and Bryant erupted over foul calls, with O’Neal repeatedly calling fouls on missed shots. Tensions escalated as Bryant, frustrated, declared, “Just play.” O’Neal retorted, threatening to slap Bryant if he made another comment. Moments later, when Bryant scored a basket, he screamed, “This is my team!” aimed not at the pick-up game but at the Lakers themselves.
O’Neal, refusing to back down, vowed to get Bryant traded and made good on his promise to “slap the s—” out of his younger teammate. The incident shocked onlookers, with O’Neal’s massive hand delivering a resounding slap across Bryant’s face. Despite the intense conflict, the Lakers managed to achieve on-court success, winning championships, but eventually, the toxic partnership had to end. The incident remains a compelling chapter in the tumultuous history of the Shaq and Kobe Lakers.
How long did Shaq and Kobe play together?
The two legendary players in the NBA, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kobe Bryant played together for a total of eight (8) seasons when they were with the Los Angeles Lakers. It was from 1996 to 2004. These years stood out in both on-court success and well-documented off-court conflicts. Despite their differences, the dynamic duo achieved remarkable success. Both Bryan and Shaq won three consecutive NBA championships from 2000 to 2002 for the Lakers.
Their partnership and collaboration are often regarded as one of the most dominant and impactful in the history of basketball. However, their differences eventually led to O’Neal leaving the Lakers team. He was traded to the Miami Heat in 2004. That was the end of their legendary on-court collaboration. Though Kobe is late now, both he and Shaq remain legends of the Los Angeles Lakers.
