Shaquille O’Neal, Who Was Berated By Kobe Bryant For Being 375lbs, Disliked Jayson Tatum Texting Him

There are only a select few individuals in NBA history who have the authority to give other superstars around the league legitimate advice on how to go about winning championships. Shaquille O’Neal is one of these individuals given the fact that he has won 4 championships, out of which he was crowned Finals MVP thrice. 

Jayson Tatum is nowhere near being at all-time status when it comes to his ranking amongst the best in league history but with the trajectory his career his on, it’s safe to say he could reach that apex soon enough. 

He was quite close last year as he led the Boston Celtics through and through to the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors where they would be 2 games away from hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy. Tatum however, would have a lackluster series, averaging 21.5 points on less than 37% shooting from the field.

Also read: “I’d Rather Shoot 0%”: Shaquille O’Neal’s Take on ‘Underhand’ Free-throws Despite Chance At Being Better Than Michael Jordan

Shaquille O’Neal didn’t take kindly to Jayson Tatum texting Kobe Bryant 

Kobe Bryant’s sudden and unfortunate passing sent shockwaves across the NBA community. Some of the most impacted people were the athletes he had taken under his wing to train. Jayson Tatum was one of these athletes. 

So, prior to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals last season, he sent Bryant’s phone number a text saying, “I got you today.” The Celtics would end up winning of course, and Tatum kept his promise to the late, great Lakers legend. 

Shaquille O’Neal got wind of this and didn’t appreciate this ‘gesture’. “I would never,” said Shaq about Tatum texting Bryant. 

“So, if you want to be anointed as the man and this is your team, this is the stuff that you have to go through. I went through, Kobe went through it, Durant went through it, everybody has to go through it,” said the ‘Big Aristotle’. 

Shaquille O’Neal went through it with Kobe Bryant 

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal butted heads more than any other superstar teammates in NBA history. The two were constantly at odds about who was the true leader of the team, given that they both had alpha-type mentalities. 

Everything from Kobe insulting Shaq for being overweight to Shaq despising the shooting guard’s shot selection, the two simply didn’t mesh well together. Despite this, they won 3 straight championships together. Couldn’t imagine how much more they would’ve won if they learned to comprise for each other a tad bit more.

Also read: “I want to be known as the Black Mark Wahlberg.”: Shaquille O’Neal, Who Weighed as Much as 400 Lbs, has Lost 40 Lbs in 2022, Plans to Lose 20 More!