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Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant have been two of one of the best to ever placed on a Lakers uniform.
In addition they didn’t all the time see eye-to-eye throughout their time in Los Angeles.
Showing on the Scoop B Radio Podcast, I mentioned it with John Celestand, a member of the Lakers’ 1999-2000 NBA Championship group.
Whereas on the podcast, I requested Celestand if he felt that the media overhyped Kobe and Shaq’s feud. “I believe Shaq likes to say that it was advertising,they have been doing it on objective, however I used to be there.” Celestand informed me.
“No. They – it was extra Shaq didn’t actually like Kobe at that time. I don’t suppose Kobe at that time – now years later once I’m gone and Kobe’s calling him fats, now that’s completely different. I don’t learn about that. However once I was there, I don’t suppose Kobe was as involved with Shaq as Shaq was involved with Kobe. As a result of Kobe at the moment was beginning to arrive. Guards get extra fanfare than huge guys. They’re extra relatable. However Shaq was nonetheless one of the best participant on the group at that time. He was our greatest participant. It wasn’t shut, proper? So, the meat was extra with their two completely different types. You realize, Kobe’s studying a e book, Kobe’s coming to observe, Kobe’s severe, Kobe desires you to work your ass off at every little thing at each second. Shaq can form of present up and dominate individuals off of sheer expertise and talent as a result of he was simply bodily extra dominant than everybody. So he can jog via observe, he may loaf, and nonetheless dominate in observe and dominate within the recreation. And he was taking a lot punishment in the course of the season, that he needed to form of typically loaf in observe. Kobe didn’t perceive that. He by no means understood that. Now, Kobe additionally didn’t perceive what it’s wish to be 7 ft and be hacked on a regular basis, you recognize? So, Kobe by no means understood what it’s like run round with 300 kilos both. So, there was a disconnect there.”
The 30th decide by the Lakers within the 1999 NBA Draft, John Celestand was a rookie when the Lakers received their championship in the course of the 1999-2000 season. He added extra context to Kobe and Shaq. “Kobe was extra severe in regards to the recreation, as the place Shaq was a extra carefree fun-loving dude,” he informed Scoop B Radio.
“Rapping, motion pictures, goofing round within the locker room…Kobe was ALWAYS severe and I don’t know if Shaq preferred that. Shaq needed you to hang around with us. Be part of the group. Kobe’s like, ‘Naahh. It is a job. We making an attempt to be one of the best. You hanging out on a regular basis, you’re not taking it significantly.’ Shaq’s like, ‘You’re not taking camaraderie significantly. You’re not taking being a part of a group significantly. It’s all about you.’ … it was that factor going forwards and backwards and it was superb to me that they might make it work on the court docket and have such a – and be so indignant with one another off the court docket. So, have been they combating on a regular basis? No. However have been there some tense instances and phrases forwards and backwards within the locker room and movie classes? Yeah. So much. I believe as Shaq bought older, I believe they each made some errors of their relationship and so they each apologized to one another for it. However me being there and watching it, I all the time thought that Shaq was extra the instigator of a whole lot of it. The place lots of people suppose it was… I all the time thought it was extra Shaq. You realize, Shaq was by no means free throw shooter. We needed to give the ball to Kobe on the finish of the sport. That’s simply the way in which it was. Not that Kobe wasn’t higher, however they might foul Shaq. Down the stretch, Kobe was our nearer and I’m not fairly positive Shaq preferred that. However that was the way it needed to be, you recognize?”
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