“Team Kobe over Team LeBron”: Shaquille O’Neal contentiously picks a starting five of Bryant’s best teammates to beat a lineup of LeBron James’ best running mates

Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant combined for the last threepeat in NBA history. Naturally, he backs himself against even the likes of LeBron James.

There will come a day when NBA fans stop perceiving every post by a former player as a slight. That won’t be today, however, as Shaquille O’Neal got the conversation going about a Kobe vs LeBron debate.

We’ve all seen how LeBron James has been playing with elite teammates for 11 seasons now. Kobe Bryant had the advantage of being drafted to the Lakers, so he had easier access to them.

Nevertheless, most people would immediately pick a team of LeBron’s supporting cast over that of Kobe. However, the single best peak by any player on either team would have to be Shaquille O’Neal. Usually, those who think otherwise tend to not have been around in the early noughties.

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Shaquille O’Neal contentiously selects Team Kobe over Team LeBron

There’s a trending Instagram topic that tackles the Kobe vs LeBron debate. It centers around the talent level of teammates that both played with during their careers.

A user compiled a starting five consisting of Kobe, Shaq, Lamar Odom, Eddie Jones and Pau Gasol. He pitted them against LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis and Chris Bosh.

 

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A post shared by DR. SHAQUILLE O’NEAL Ed.D. (@shaq)

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Shaq obviously backs himself in this debate. But most people would think that a team with amazing defenders D-Wade, LeBron, Anthony Davis and Chris Bosh would be able to rein in some of the offensive power of Shaq and co.

On the other hand, LeBron’s team has amazing spacing, and a slasher like D-Wade alongside him. Kyrie Irving might be the least talented player in that group, and he’s actually unreal to watch.

Either way, you should always adores these old talking heads for indulging in little gimmicks like this. In their heart of hearts, they usually know the right thing, but they just do this stuff to get people going.