The Lakers were quite the circus in the early 2000s. They drew the crowds with their explosive style of winning basketball while being quite a mess internally.
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The conflict was all around the Los Angeles outfit during this time. Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, their two superstars were amidst a power struggle. And coach Phil Jackson was also not fully in sync with his stars. On-court success was the only factor that tied this outfit together despite the red flags.
Also read: Shaquille O’Neal, Who weighed 370lbs, Once Wanted to Kill Kobe Bryant over an “Unreleased Article”
And when that bubble burst, everything went south. The Lakers suffered a shocking loss to the Detroit Pistons in 2004 and a major reality check was dealt to them.
Kobe and Bryant wanted to go their separate ways. The Zenmaster was frustrated with the drama and was uncertain about staying in LA for longer than his existing contract.
Owner Jerry Buss, however, was confident in holding the fort together. Buss believed in the power of money and believed his lucrative offers would be enough to keep the team together.
What did Dr. Jerry Buss reveal about talks with Shaq and Jackson regarding their futures?
Dr. Buss was a man who lived by the power of the Dollar. And when the conflict was brewing, Buss believed that the same Dollar would be his friend in negotiations.
When asked about the situation brewing in Los Angeles, Buss retained a position of confidence. The team owner believed that Shaquille O’Neal would sign a contract extension with his team and that Phil Jackson would also retain his status as head coach.
Both individuals were promised the highest ever sums available to them for their services. This was even declared to the public, by their extravagant owner.
“Jerry Buss sat down with Howard Beck of the Daily News for a 30-minute interview about the plight of basketball’s most talented and dysfunctional franchise. Twenty-four years had passed since he purchased the team from Jack Kent Cooke, and through the various potholes and apartment fires, everything generally worked out. So, the owner promised, would this. O’Neal, Buss said, would get his contract extension. “I’m sure that when he signs,” he said, “he’ll be the highest-paid player in the league.” Jackson, Buss said, would also be extended. “When Phil signs,” he said, “he’ll be the highest-paid coach in the league. What more can I say?” was the public stance taken by Dr. Buss.
Unfortunately, things did not go to plan for Buss and his Lakers. Money wasn’t the be-all and end-all for Shaq or Jackson. Issues had gone far beyond financial disagreements.
What happened after Buss’ lucrative contractual promises were made?
Shaquille O’Neal and Phil Jackson both opted against extending their stays in Los Angeles. Shaq was frustrated at the state of things and his feud with co-star Kobe Bryant was no secret. Phil Jackson had run out of patience too with the drama that had unfurled in the early 2000s.
Jackson was not happy with the offer he received either. The Zenmaster wasn’t satisfied with just being the highest-paid coach in the league. The expectation was a contract worth $12 million a year, which would have doubled his existing salary. The offer, although lucrative on its own, wasn’t quite that.
A brief hiatus did follow, but Jackson however, did make a return to the Lakers shortly. Shaq’s departure wasn’t temporary like his coach’s though.
O’Neal demanded a trade and got his request granted. A move to Miami and a championship followed. A journeyman career was what came afterward, though. There was never a pitstop in LA, however.
A great team that just could not stick it out together. The 2000s could have been a Shaq-Kobe show yet again, but it wasn’t just to be.
