“$10 Million Pay Cut”: Taken Aback by $21,000,000 Disrespect, Shaquille O’Neal Indirectly Confessed To Losing ‘Apha Battle’ to Kobe Bryant

Shaquille O’Neal’s 2004 exit from the LA Lakers came due to many reasons. One of the major ones was that the Lakers had offered him a deal that represented a $10,000,000 pay cut. Previously earning close to $30,000,000 a season, he eventually joined the Miami Heat, signing a 5-year, $101,000,000 deal. Despite Kobe Bryant and Shaq working well together with the Lakers, there was always tension between the two. Both players wanted to be the alpha of the team, with Shaq effectively claiming in his book, Shaq Uncut, that it was Kobe who won that battle.

The tension between the two players was considered a positive by head coach Phil Jackson. Despite the constant ego clashes, Kobe and Shaq “drove” each other to greater heights. This resulted in 3 back-to-back titles and 3 back-to-back Finals MVPs for Shaquille O’Neal.

Shaquille O’Neal effectively admitted to having lost the alpha battle to Kobe Bryant

While the two players had a lot of ego clashes, things worked out well for both on-court. Shaq confessed in his book that both of them drove each other, and were producing big numbers.

What’s more, Shaq claimed that Phil Jackson knew that the two alphas would eventually tear each other apart. This proved correct eventually, with Shaquille O’Neal effectively choosing to leave after his demands were not met:

“Here’s the funny thing about our so-called feud. All I ever said about Kobe is what everyone is saying now. I just had the balls to say it. I made sure I didn’t belittle him too much because I knew we needed our one-two punch. I was putting up big numbers and he was putting up big numbers, so we weren’t really all that worried about much. Phil knew what was going on, which was why he rarely stepped in. Phil knew what was driving me: Kobe. And he knew what was driving Kobe: me. In four years together I can remember Phil calling me and Kobe into his office only one time. He knew the tension was good for us, good for the team. He also knew that sooner or later, two alpha males were going to tear each other limb from limb. Only one alpha male is usually left standing. By February, our negotiations with the Lakers were at an impasse. They were offering two years at $21 million a season, and that wasn’t going to work. After I won three championships and three Finals MVPs, they wanted me to take a $10 million pay cut—and they were willing to guarantee only two years.”

The Lakers had incredibly offered Shaq around $21 million per year. Furthermore, they were only willing to offer a 2-year contract, both of which were unacceptable to the big man.

O’Neal won his 4^th NBA title with the Miami Heat

It will be fair to say that things worked out for both Kobe and Shaq once the latter moved. Kobe became the clear star and won two more titles, in 2009 and 2010.

Shaq on the other hand, joined forces with a certain Dwyane Wade. The two together helped the Heat win their first championship in history.

While O’Neal was past his prime by the time he left, he could still do a job. Playing a role player alongside Wade, he helped the team immensely and proved worth the money that the Heat invested.