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“Remember when you said, Kobe Bryant will be the greatest player of all time”: What the Black Mamba told Shaq when they met for the first time

Jeet Pukhrambam
Published

“I sacrificed a lot playing with Shaq and that’s why I have only one MVP”: When Kobe Bryant got candid about his lack of individual accolades when with Lakers

Kobe Bryant was a steadfast personality. His mentality remains the benchmark. It was no surprise when he told Shaq he would be the GOAT. 

Kobe was always a very mercurial player for the Los Angeles Lakers. His legacy is something that no player can eclipse for a very long time. Perhaps, even forever.

We know him as amongst the greatest players to have graced the game. But more importantly, we remember him for his mindset.

The “Mamba Mentality” as we have come to know and respect is something that players have tried to incorporate throughout their careers.

Also read: “Everybody in the F***ing building knew Kobe Bryant wasn’t gonna pass”: When Michael Jordan reminisced the last time the two NBA legends faced each other

Kobe Bryant and Shaq: A throwback to when the two NBA greats sat down to talk

 

It is no secret that both Kobe and Shaq resented each other. The duo was unstoppable in their prime but as they continued winning, their egos started clashing.

The fallout was well televised and the eventual trade for Shaq between the Lakers and Miami in 2004 marked the end of the era. The two continued to battle and eventually, after 2006 and Shaq’s fourth championship, the break was starting to mend.

Finally, in 2018 years after their retirement, the two agreed on a publically televised sitdown that would be broadcasted on NBA on TNT.

In the segment, both greats talk at length about their mutual admiration and how the fallout was their fault. Shaq recalls when both the players met for the first time. He talks about how one moment piqued his interest in Kobe.

Shaq says, “Remember that time we met in the fall, you told me you were going to be the greatest player of all time.”

As we look back on Kobe’s life and legacy, we will always associate him with Shaq and how the two were one of the fiercest tandems the league had ever seen.

Also read: “Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are two of the most charismatic players ever!”: When Scottie Pippen Compared Lakers legend to His Airness

About the author

Jeet Pukhrambam

Jeet Pukhrambam

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Jeet Pukhrambam is The SportsRush's Lead Editor for Basketball. After freelancing for five years as an independent writer, Jeet created thousands of blog posts and articles. He now covers intriguing news reports and throwback stories on all things NBA. His interest in NBA started with the ascendancy of Giannis Antetokounmpo in the 2016-17 season. Since then, Jeet has managed to coalesce his knowledge of the game and his writing to create pieces that are reflective of the current state of the league. Now, he ensures that The SportsRush produces the highest quality of writing. In his free time, he enjoys playing football, cooking, traveling, and dancing to techno. Jeet takes pride in his critical thinking, music playlists, and his love for spaghetti.

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