Rare Shaquille O’Neal Lifting Kobe Bryant Like a Baby Photo Will Bring Old Lakers Fans to Tears

Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant were an unforgettable duo on-court as well as off-court. The two led the Los Angeles Lakers to a historic three-peat at the turn of the century. The Black Mamba’s untimely demise in January 2020 shook the NBA world, and all the NBA superstars, including Shaquille O’Neal. While everyone is still trying to heal, there are flashes of memories that come through once in a while. 

The 15-time All-Star recently shared a picture on his social media, of him carrying Kobe Bryant on his shoulders. The picture looks like it was clicked during the Lakers days of the duo, with Bryant having a head full of hair. Surely making fans tear up remembering the old days.

Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant

The duo of  Shaquille O’Neal with Kobe Bryant was a roller coaster ride. The two started off a new era for the Los Angeles Lakers as they won three consecutive NBA championships. Understandably, they developed a very close friendship during that era. Both were fierce competitors, so they did fight once in a while trying to prove their stance on things. 

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The duo had an infamous “beef” in their last year together, followed by O’Neal leaving the LA side. Dr. Shaq then went on to the Miami Heat to win another NBA Championship in 2006. Bryant and O’Neal once sat together and chatted candidly about their differences and how they overcame them. 

The Big Aristotle remembers his dear friend like their fans, or probably more than them. He recently posted a picture of a young Kobe Bryant piggybacking the 7-foot giant in the LA nightlife. It sends chills down everyone’s spine thinking of how cool it would be to experience such moments first-hand. Fans and the 15-time All-Star both would give anything for such a moment to be recreated.

As they were fierce competitors, they had great banter as well. The Black Mamba, however, didn’t shy away to rub his fifth championship ring in Shaq’s face, which they both laughed about years later.

Shaq and Kobe in the Lakers

Their friendship off-court shouldn’t shade their dominance on the court together. The 7-foot giant averaged the most points in his career while playing with the Black Mamba.

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Out of the 461 games that they played together, the duo won 336 games with a 72.9% win rate together.