mobile app bar

Shaquille O’Neal, Who Was Berated By Kobe Bryant For Being 375lbs, Disliked Jayson Tatum Texting Him

Samir Mehdi
Published

Jayson Tatum Passes Shaquille O'Neal On The Scoring Chart In A Win Against The Detroit Pistons

There are only a select few individuals in NBA history who have the authority to give other superstars around the league legitimate advice on how to go about winning championships. Shaquille O’Neal is one of these individuals given the fact that he has won 4 championships, out of which he was crowned Finals MVP thrice. 

Jayson Tatum is nowhere near being at all-time status when it comes to his ranking amongst the best in league history but with the trajectory his career his on, it’s safe to say he could reach that apex soon enough. 

He was quite close last year as he led the Boston Celtics through and through to the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors where they would be 2 games away from hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy. Tatum however, would have a lackluster series, averaging 21.5 points on less than 37% shooting from the field.

Also read: “I’d Rather Shoot 0%”: Shaquille O’Neal’s Take on ‘Underhand’ Free-throws Despite Chance At Being Better Than Michael Jordan

Shaquille O’Neal didn’t take kindly to Jayson Tatum texting Kobe Bryant 

Kobe Bryant’s sudden and unfortunate passing sent shockwaves across the NBA community. Some of the most impacted people were the athletes he had taken under his wing to train. Jayson Tatum was one of these athletes. 

So, prior to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals last season, he sent Bryant’s phone number a text saying, “I got you today.” The Celtics would end up winning of course, and Tatum kept his promise to the late, great Lakers legend. 

Shaquille O’Neal got wind of this and didn’t appreciate this ‘gesture’. “I would never,” said Shaq about Tatum texting Bryant. 

“So, if you want to be anointed as the man and this is your team, this is the stuff that you have to go through. I went through, Kobe went through it, Durant went through it, everybody has to go through it,” said the ‘Big Aristotle’. 

Shaquille O’Neal went through it with Kobe Bryant 

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal butted heads more than any other superstar teammates in NBA history. The two were constantly at odds about who was the true leader of the team, given that they both had alpha-type mentalities. 

Everything from Kobe insulting Shaq for being overweight to Shaq despising the shooting guard’s shot selection, the two simply didn’t mesh well together. Despite this, they won 3 straight championships together. Couldn’t imagine how much more they would’ve won if they learned to comprise for each other a tad bit more.

Also read: “I want to be known as the Black Mark Wahlberg.”: Shaquille O’Neal, Who Weighed as Much as 400 Lbs, has Lost 40 Lbs in 2022, Plans to Lose 20 More! 

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

instagram-icon

Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

Share this article