Iconic duos in the NBA are as loved as the game itself. Look back to some of the greatest basketball teams and you are sure to stumble upon some of the greatest duos and trios. Chief among them is Los Angeles Lakers legendary one-two punch of Shaquille O’Neal and the late Kobe Bryant. Following The Black Mamba‘s untimely demise, O’Neal showed up as a pillar of support for the Bryant family. 

Even though the two had a messy break up, involving O’Neal’s trade to the Miami Heat, their post-retirement dynamic was of pure respect. So, years after their dominance, Shaq looked back at his power-packed partnership with Bryant through an old clip.

Shaq and Kobe’s historic legacy in the purple and gold

Undeniably, one of the greatest and most formidable duos to ever grace the league was O’Neal and Bryant. They were a part of the Lakers’ massive success. Recently, the league’s favorite big man, Shaquille O’Neal, shared a clip on his Instagram Story. The clip is from after their three-peat success in the early 2000s. 

While both the players were seen having a playful interaction congratulating each other on their triumph, O’Neal claimed that he and Kobe Bryant were the strongest duo in the league. Boasting his partnership with Bryant, he said, “Baddest duo ever, Superman and Batman.

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And honestly, we can’t say he is wrong.  Here is the clip in case you missed it.

The two were the greatest combo in the Lakers’ history. During their run with the Lakers, the dynamic duo combined their forces to dominate the league and claim three consecutive championships. The first and only three-peat in franchise history. 

If it wasn’t for their off-court sparring, nobody can tell just how many more they might have won together.

The rumors between Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant 

It would have been interesting to watch the two players claim more championships as teammates.

Unfortunately, fans and the public were not able to experience such bliss due to O’Neal’s trade to the Miami Heat. While Shaq left LA due to issues with his contract, some assumed the reason to be his beef with Kobe.

According to reports, personal differences became a reason for their arguments. Moreover, Bryant wasn’t impressed with The Big Aristotle’s work ethic. After O’Neal’s departure, the Lakers struggled to find their pace.

Furthermore, after the team’s defeat to the Boston Celtics in the 2008 finals, O’Neal went on to throw shade at Bryant for not winning. Although, the four-time NBA champion revealed that while they did have some arguments, most of the rumors were false.

Do you think Shaq and Kob were the greatest duo to ever do it? If not, who is your pick?

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