“Shaquille O’Neal is more focused on a woman’s bubble butt”: Lakers Superstar Cared About Ilana Dunn’s ‘Assets’ Over Championship With Kobe Bryant

Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant are widely regarded as one of the greatest duos in NBA history. Their Lakers team was simply unstoppable from 1996 till they parted ways in 2004.

At the time of their separation, many were left puzzled. Why? Simply because the potential for further dominance with the duo was possible. But, a fallout between the two put an end to it.

This fallout reached its climax during the 2004 NBA Finals, where the Lakers lost to the Detroit Pistons. There were several reasons for the loss. One of them was Shaq’s tendency to get distracted by “bubble butts”.

Also Read: “Anyone Who Clashed With Kobe Bryant Was Lazy”: Gilbert Arenas Launches an Indirect Attack On Shaquille O’Neal

The Lakers were doomed to lose the 2004 Finals once Shaquille O’Neal got distracted by a “bubble butt”

The Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant-led LA Lakers tragically lost the chance to win their fourth ring in 2004. The team, while better on paper in comparison to the Detroit Pistons lacked the chemistry that their opponents had.

However, the absence of cooperation wasn’t the only issue with the team. Mike Wise, the ghostwriter of Shaq Talks Back recalled in the Three-Ring Circus how a conversation between himself and O’Neal revealed to him that the Lakers were doomed. Following their Game 4 loss, Wise tried to pep talk Diesel. Unfortunately, the latter was too distracted by Ilana Nunn’s “assets”.

“As the two men walked through the stadium bowels, Wise provided an unsolicited pep talk. ‘Listen,’ he said, ‘you and Kobe need to work together. You can still win this thing, but the Pistons are tough. I just think—’ O’Neal held his hand up, a signal for Wise to hush. Ilana Nunn, the daughter of veteran official Ronnie Nunn, was standing a couple of feet away, her back toward the men. ‘I’ve gotta say,’ O’Neal cracked, ‘she’s got a fine bubble butt.’ Um . . .’That’s when I knew it was done,’ Wise recalled. ‘I’m thinking about the  Lakers winning a championship, and Shaq is more focused on a woman’s bubble butt. They were toast.'”

It certainly was a huge blow to the Shaq-Kobe dynasty. One that saw things escalate quickly as O’Neal was traded in the off-season.

Shaq was traded to the Heat shortly after the Lakers’ loss to the Pistons

Following their unfortunate defeat in the 2004 NBA Finals, the Lakers decided to blow things up quickly. They made some big changes, primarily trading Shaquille O’Neal to the Miami Heat, ending the eight-year dominance of the duo.

The move changed the landscape of the NBA. As both Shaq and Kobe went their separate ways.

Also Read: “Phil Jackson never wanted Gary Payton to be a Laker”: Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant Overturned 11x Champ Coach’s Decision