Shaquille O?Neal on Ugly Controversy in 2003: ?I Made Gary [Payton] and Karl [Malone] Turn Down a Lot of Money?I Don?t Want to Use the Word Bribe?

Shaquille O’Neal and the Los Angeles Lakers were an unstoppable force during the early 2000s. The team achieved a remarkable three-peat from 2000 to 2002, with O’Neal earning the Finals MVP title in each of those championships runs. However, amidst the Lakers’ dominance, controversies were brewing that had an impact on the team’s chemistry and subsequent seasons.

In the midst of it all, Shaq publicly expressed regret for keeping Karl Malone and Gary Payton away from more substantial financial offers. How did the Big Aristotle devoid the two NBA greats of hefty money bags? Let us delve into the details.

Shaquille O’Neal once made Gary Payton and Karl Malone turn down huge money

Karl Malone and Gary Payton are both esteemed members of the NBA’s prestigious list of the 75 greatest players. Malone was a formidable scoring threat during his prime, earning the NBA MVP trophy twice and currently ranking third in the league’s all-time scoring list. On the other hand, Payton, known as the ‘Glove,’ was renowned for his exceptional defensive skills. He became the first point guard to win the Defensive Player of the Year award.

He also has a joint record for the most appearances in the NBA all-defensive first team. Despite their remarkable Hall of Fame resumes, both players fell short of securing an NBA championship during their prime. However, O’Neal played a crucial role in recruiting the two players to get them their first NBA title, although it didn’t happen. In the recent episode of The Big Podcast with Shaq, O’Neal shed light on how Payton and Malone declined good offers, only to win a championship with him.

O’Neal said, “When I designed that team in LA, you know I wanted the same thing for Karl. It was perfectly designed but a lot of unfortunate stuff went on. We don’t want to get into that. We still made the Finals, didn’t get work out. So I kinda felt bad. I was like because I made Gary and Karl turn down a lot of money. Because they could have got their legacy money wherever they want. But they were kind of feeling like how I was feeling, we want to get their championship. So I don’t want to use the word bribe but I convinced them you all come join me”. What was the controversy that happened in 2003 with the Lakers?

The 2003-04 was a controversial year for the Lakers

The Lakers’ hopes were high with the addition of Malone and Payton to the already formidable duo of Shaq and Kobe, leading many to believe they would be unstoppable. However, their championship aspirations were dashed when they lost to the Detroit Pistons in the Finals. A significant factor in their downfall was the strained relationship between O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. Reports of clashes, egos, and differences in playing styles overshadowed the team’s success on the court.

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Moreover, there were additional issues between other players and the coaching staff, further straining team dynamics. These conflicts and distractions ultimately affected the Lakers’ chemistry, resulting in a disappointing performance. Following their Finals loss, the team underwent significant changes as O’Neal was traded to Miami, Payton joined the Celtics, and Malone announced his retirement, marking the end of an era for the Lakers.

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