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Lakers Kobe Bryant bumps chests with Shaquille O’Neal after O’Neal got fouled scoring in the first half during the First Round of the Western Conference Playoffs at Staples Center Sunday April 21, 2002.Trailblazer Damon Stoudamire looks on from the left. Lakers won 9587. (Photo by Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
via Getty
Lakers Kobe Bryant bumps chests with Shaquille O’Neal after O’Neal got fouled scoring in the first half during the First Round of the Western Conference Playoffs at Staples Center Sunday April 21, 2002.Trailblazer Damon Stoudamire looks on from the left. Lakers won 9587. (Photo by Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
To a Los Angeles Lakers fan, Kobe Bryant is a legend that helped take the franchise to another level. The late NBA icon spent two decades with the team, winning five titles along the way. Shaquille O’Neal, who was also a part of this journey, seems to agree.
In a recent Instagram story, O’Neal shared a 2006 throwback video featuring Bryant.
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While the video itself is short, it does its job to highlight Bryant’s prowess on the court. Steve Nash, who was the MVP that year, is directly at the receiving end.
Shaquille O’Neal shares an iconic Kobe Bryant-Steve Nash moment on Instagram
Though O’Neal was no longer playing for the Lakers in 2006, he was certainly up for appreciating Bryant’s dunk over Nash on Instagram.
The iconic poster came with around three minutes remaining in the game, with the Lakers leading. Luke Walton ended up missing a jumper and Lamar Odom securing the offensive rebound. Bryant, on his end, was determined. He gained the ball from Odom and ended up dunking over Nash.
Despite the overall result of the series, Bryant’s poster dunk is still remembered.
Should Bryant have won the 2005-06 NBA MVP?
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In Steve Nash’s career, his 2006 MVP award is an unforgettable highlight. The Phoenix Suns were unstoppable and created the right amount of buzz, making Nash a favorite. However, Bryant himself performed exceptionally that year. He averaged 35.4 points per game, and might have been made the MVP himself.
During the series, the Lakers even picked up a 3-1 lead, putting up a strong fight before losing in seven games
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Of course, it would be some time before Bryant came back as a winner.?The five-time NBA Champion won titles again in 2009 and 2010, making sure that no one can look past his game.
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LOS ANGELES, CA. JAN. 04, 2015. Lakers’ #24 Kobe Bryant all smiles after an assist from teammate Carlos Boozer in a game vs the Pacers’ in the 1st half of the game at Staple Center in Los Angeles on Jan. 04, 2015. LA Lakers play the Indiana Pacers in a regular NBA season game. (Photo by Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
O’Neal, who was in LA before Miami, won three titles with Bryant. It was a high point for the team itself. Shaq and Kobe go down as one NBA’s best duo ever. Unfortunately, their partnership was shorter than expected, as O’Neal was traded shortly after the three-peat in 2003.
Some fans believe that if O’Neal was still in LA, the team could have won more titles before 2009. Unfortunately, nothing about the NBA is predictable. However, one cannot deny Bryant the title of a great player, always performing his best.
What is your favorite Kobe Bryant highlight? Let us know in the comments below.
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