Last week Shaquille O’Neil was quoted in the Sacramento Bee as saying, “I swear to God we never had a problem” in regards to his relationship with Kobe Bryant. Shaq went on to explain that the whole feud between the two was “was all designed by Phil,” and “Because, if you think about it, Phil never called us into the office and said, ‘Both of you, shut the (heck) up.’ Never did that in four years. He knew that when I read something, I was going to get upset. And he knew Kobe was going to always come out and play hard. So I think it was all done by design.”
“It was fun. It was actually fun. (Assistant coach Brian) Shaw would be, ‘Oh, man, why did you say that?’ And then Karl (Malone) would be like, ‘Yo, that was (messed) up what you said,’ then we’d try to outdo each other in the game.”
“But while we were trying to outdo each other, the two best players in the game, we were outdoing everyone by far. (Heck), if he was open in the lane, I wasn’t going to say, ‘(The heck with) you, Kobe.’ I would still drop it off. But it was actually fun.”
“And not only was it fun, we’ll always be remembered as the best Lakers one-two punch. I’m going on record as saying we’re the best Lakers guard-center punch. You heard if from me. Ever.”
Shaq also mentioned that he wouldn’t rule out a return to the Lakers in 2010, when his contract is done with Phoenix. A few months ago Shaq declared that he would retire after his contract with Phoenix expired. Prior to that he was caught on camera in a night club rapping, asking Kobe “how my *ss taste?”
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