“Your 40-point Streak is Taking Away Shaquille O’Neal’s Firepower”: Kobe Bryant Was Once Stopped by Phil Jackson Amidst a 9-game Run
There are several stories as to why Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant broke up when they were literally the greatest duo to ever play the game of basketball, during their 1996 to 2004 stay in LA.
Some of them have been told by the Diesel himself. Yes, there are multiple. And they do contradict each other. O’Neal has himself called it a marketing strategy by both players, who had first mutually agreed to part ways because Kobe wanted to win on his own.
The 15x All-Star has also confessed to Bryant’s anger towards him after he started gaining weight following the duo’s three-peat. We might never know the real story behind it, but this story from Bryant seems one legit reason for what could have started it.
Kobe Bryant was once told by Phil Jackson to stop his 40-point streak to make Shaquille O’Neal happy
In an interview a few years before his death, the Purple and Gold legend elaborated on an incident during the start of what could have been a Lakers’ takeover by Bryant much before its time.
Bryant told how in 2003, he got to a 9-game streak of 40-points or more while O’Neal was injured after he took over the charge on coach Phil Jackson’s request. But when the 3x Finals MVP came back, Jackson, to his surprise, requested Kobe to take his foot off the gas because the Lakers stood a chance to lose O’Neal in the next off-season.
“Your 40-point streak is taking away Shaq’s firepower,” Phil said. Following this, Kobe let his chance to get to a 10-game 40-point streak in a game where he had gotten to 38 points and passed the ball to O’Neal in the last possession.
Listen to the insane story in this short embed.
Indeed, that could have been it for any other superstar in Bryant’s place.
Shaq didn’t stand a chance to be a preferable option over Kobe
Once it was decided that Shaq and Kobe would’ve to part ways, it was easy for the Lakers to go with Bryant.
Not only him being the younger of the two a point that mattered for the future of the franchise, but Shaq’s lack of discipline was also a clear problem too.
His increasing weight is what led to his steady decline in form later on in his career. And Bryant leading them to two more Championships after the famous breakup justified their choice.
Also read: $400 Million Worth Shaquille O’Neal Once Cried Profusely on the Floor After Being Fined By the NBA
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