Kobe Bryant, today, is an inseparable name from the Lakers’ history. He gave the gold and purple 20 precious years of his life. He fought countless battles to take the franchise to new heights. But there was a time when Kobe Bryant wasn’t the leading man for the Lakers. It was Shaquille O’Neal’s team.
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When Bryant tried to usurp O’Neal’s claim, the two superstars indulged in a nasty public feud. Yet, until 2003, no one could have denied it was indeed Shaq’s team. However, everything changed once the Lakers suffered a humiliating loss to the Detroit Pistons in the 2004 Western Conference Finals.
Only two hours after losing game 5, O’Neal and Shaunie, while at a Lakers’ dinner, knew their future was sealed. The franchise now belonged to Kobe Bryant.
Jerry Buss ignored Shaq and Shaunie for Kobe Bryant and Vanessa
In his book Three-Ring Circus, author Jeff Pearlman wrote in detail about the immediate aftermath of the Lakers’ loss to Detroit. He revealed how Jerry Buss invited all his players to a hotel in Michigan. Kobe Bryant arrived with his wife Vanessa, while Shaquille O’Neal arrived with his ex-wife Shaunie.
Jerry arrived a few minutes later. Shaquille immediately believed the boss would come to talk to him and Shaunie. However, that did not happen. Buss instead only talked to Vanessa and Kobe. That is when Shaq knew his career with the Lakers was done.
Pearlman wrote: “A few minutes later, Jerry Buss arrived, O’Neal planned on paying proper homage to his boss, which meant thanking him for yet another season of wearing the purple and gold. Only that’s when the weirdness commenced. Buss immediately approached Bryant, who was now sitting alone at a table with his wife, Vanessa. The O’Neals were 10 feet away, but Buss paid them no mind. “I call it the Godfather reign,” O’Neal said years later. “You have this old guy who’s been the godfather for a long time. You have this young guy, he’s planning and planning and planning. And at dinner one day—Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! You pop him. And the moment I got popped was at that party. Jerry talked to Kobe and his wife, then left.” Hurt and dumbfounded, O’Neal turned to Shaunie and said one thing: “Uh-oh.””
Shaquille O’Neal was traded after the 2004 season
After the fateful dinner, Shaquille O’Neal packed his bags and prepared for the trade that was now inevitable. With Jerry Buss only talking to Kobe Bryant and Vanessa, it was clear he was the new face of gold and purple.
Eventually, O’Neal was sent to Miami where he teamed up with Dwyane Wade. The duo won another championship together and proved Shaq was capable of winning outside of the Lakers.
Do you think Jerry Buss did Shaq wrong?
