RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Shaquille O’Neal won three championships alongside Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles, but he’s under no illusion about how the fans feel about both of them.
The last NBA franchise to win three consecutive championships was the Los Angeles Lakers between 2000 and 2002. A dominant Shaquille O’Neal led the way alongside a young but elite Kobe Bryant.
The Lakers have enjoyed many superstars in their history, but Shaq and Kobe’s run holds a special place in the heart of many modern fans.
No team is perfect, though. O’Neal and Bryant famously had a feud that led to Shaq’s departure. And while Lakers fans will always hold him in high regard, the big man knows it’s not the same as how they felt about the Mamba.
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Shaquille O’Neal says he was never loved by Lakers fans like Kobe was
Kobe Bryant stayed in Los Angeles till the very end of his career, winning two more championships alongside Pau Gasol and others.
His legacy with the Lakers can’t be matched with anyone outside of maybe Magic Johnson. And Shaq knows this best, as his recent comments show.
“Well, they didn’t love me, they loved Kobe,” O’Neal said about Lakers fans. “They didn’t love me. This is what we call B.O.B brother, the business of basketball.
“When you’re like me… When I’m in charge, I’m a difficult man to deal with. Everything has to be done my way and sometimes people don’t agree with that.”
Shaq was answering in the context of LeBron’s time with the Lakers, but this is interesting insight for fans nonetheless. And while it may not be as much as Kobe, the Big Diesel is still well loved in Los Angeles.
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