Kobe Bryant is one of the all-time greats of the NBA. In fact, he transcended sports, earning a spot on the Mount Rushmore of athletes.
It seems that the Los Angeles Lakers sensed that from the beginning. Either that, or they knew his intensity was off the charts even from an early age. As such, no rookie hazing for the Black Mamba.
Shaquille O’Neal did give it a try, though. The results were something you’d expect – Shaq trying to be playful and Bryant and those around him just were not having it.
“I hazed Kobe one time and it’s like the FBI came to my room the next morning,” O’Neal said on this week’s edition of “The Big Podcast”.
“They said, ‘He off limits,'” he continued. “I said, ‘What you mean he off limits?’ They were like, ‘Bro, he off limits.’ Jerry West came down, Mitch Kupchak, Magic [Johnson] brought his punk […] down there and like, ‘Hey man, leave him alone.'”
Shaq Explains Why He Didn’t Mess With Kobe
Shaq went on to explain why he relented and didn’t mess with Kobe Bryant as a rookie after the ‘FBI’ incident.
“And the only reason I didn’t mess with him was because when I got to Orlando, Scott Skiles told me, ‘Lift these bags.’ I said, ‘I don’t do that, bro.’ He said, ‘You’re a rookie,'” he told listeners.
“I said, ‘No, no. I’m not a rookie. I’m Shaq. I ain’t lifting no […] bag.'”
Two of the greatest players of all time. Shaq wasn’t your typical rookie. And neither was Kobe.
It’s hard to decide what’s funnier here – their reactions, the entire Lakers front office descending on Shaq for teasing Kobe, or the fact that Skiles, at 6′ 1″ and 180 lbs. tops, told the Diesel – who had an entire foot and about 150 lbs. on him – to carry his bags.
That had to be a sight to see.
“I hazed Kobe one time and it’s like the FBI came to my room the next morning.” 😳
— The Big Podcast (@bigpodwithshaq) August 28, 2024
Shaq tells the story of when he hazed Kobe Bryant pic.twitter.com/ZdsyLLoWd8
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Two Of The All-Time Greats
Kobe and Shaq had one of the most dynamic and influential partnerships in NBA history during their time together with the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 to 2004.
Their relationship was immediate and electric. Shaq provided the dominant inside presence with his size and skill, while Kobe developed into a versatile and dynamic guard.
Together, they won three NBA Championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002.
Despite their on-court chemistry, their strong personalities often clashed. Shaq was known for his larger-than-life persona, humor, and laid-back approach, whereas Kobe was intense, focused, and often seen as more serious.
After years of success, their relationship reached a breaking point. Shaq was traded to the Miami Heat. It’s often assumed that had they stayed together, O’Neal and Bryant likely would have won more championship rings with the Lakers.
Despite the tensions, Shaq has always admired Kobe as one of the GOATs of the NBA. He places Bryant and Michael Jordan at the top, over LeBron James.
“I’ve heard players say, including myself, ‘I feared Mike.’ I’ve heard players in your generation say, ‘I feared Kobe.’ I never really heard any players say they fear LeBron,” O’Neal said.
Sadly, Bryant tragically passed away at the age of 41 alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna in a helicopter crash in 2020.
“Kobe and I always maintained a deep respect and a love for one another,” O’Neal said at a celebration of Kobe’s life.
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