Next Shaq and Kobe? Shaquille O’Neal Slaps James Harden and Joel Embiid Back to Reality With “Honeymoon Phase” Jibe

Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant were not only unstoppable, but practically invincible in their prime. And this is just about their individual brilliance. Shaq’s force and dominance on the court was unmatched. On the other hand, Kobe was one of the most effective and efficient players ever.

In 1996, Shaq joined the Lakers, and this was the year when Kobe made his debut. Shaq entering his prime and young Kobe starting his career. Things had just started cooking.

Shaq was already established as one of the best centers in the league, having played 4 years in Orlando. Kobe rose to the occasion and started his legendary career with Shaq being in his team. Every year, the two just kept getting better. The early 2000s saw both of them flourish in their prime. The LA Lakers completed the three-peat (2000, 2001, 2002) with the Kobe-Shaq partnership blowing up the NBA. They took the league by storm and were ruthless for almost 8 years running.

Shaquille O’Neal humbles down James Harden and Joel Embiid

The recent surge in form for James Harden and Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers has got a lot of fans excited. This is the start of a promising partnership. But they are only in their first season after James Harden joined the 76ers in a dramatic fashion. 

On The Big Podcast with Shaq, Anthony “Spice” Adams asked Shaq if he would support the narrative of Embiid and Harden being the next Shaq and Kobe. Shaq refuses to compare this partnership with his and Kobe’s in any capacity. The big man claims that they are nowhere near.

Read More: James Harden takes a subtle dig at former teammates.

“We won three out of four” talking about the three-peat. Spice interrupted Shaq and asked if they would be in the conversation if they won one. 

To this Shaq firmly replied, “No. No. Hell, no. Not after one year. Me and Kobe had eight years of damage together. No, not even close. Stop it. Listen, NO, H NO, and F NO.”

Shaq also called this a ‘Honeymoon phase‘ for James and Joel.

Shaq-Kobe in comparison with Harden-Embiid

The big difference between the two duos is that Shaquille O’Neal was yet to enter his prime when Kobe started his career with the team. They both entered and played in their primes. Therefore, they bossed the NBA for almost all the years they played together. Both of them have a separate legacy and were undeniably great at the game individually as well.

Joel Embiid, the 7’0 center, has been in the league for 7 years now, somewhat similar to how Shaq was when he teamed up with Kobe. But James Harden, the second face of the duo, is a 12-year veteran and has already been through thick and thin. 

The contrast between the two partnerships is a big one, not only in terms of the situation but also in terms of the potential of the linkup in coming years. Although Embiid and Harden are also class players, their comparison with a duo who ruled the NBA is quite premature. Taking nothing away from the 76ers duo, Shaq and Kobe were on a different level altogether and it would not be fair to any of the four players to justify this comparison. For Shaq-Kobe it would be disrespectful because it has not even been a year for the 76ers stars. For Harden-Embiid, it would mean, being under immense pressure and expectations to live up to the hype.

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However, we might see the best version of the new partnership and they might surprise us by coming close to legends. But for now, let’s enjoy the promise of James Harden and Joel Embiid duo while remembering the greatness of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.