Three Days Into His First Practice, Former Lakers Star Was Once Offered $10,000 by Shaquille O?Neal to Fight Kobe Bryant

Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, both NBA Hall of Famers, played vital roles in the successful Lakers dynasty of the early 2000s. Together, they exerted dominance over their opponents and achieved a remarkable three-peat. However, despite their remarkable on-court achievements, their relationship was fraught with bitterness. This bitterness between the two legends was evident not only during practices, but also in press interviews.

O’Neal harbored dislike towards Bryant, even going as far as slapping him during a practice game. Furthermore, O’Neal once offered a significant sum of money to a Lakers teammate in exchange for engaging in a physical altercation with Bryant. Who is the player that was offered money by Shaq?

A former Lakers star reveals that Shaquille O’Neal offered him money to fight Kobe

Isaiah Rider showcased exceptional basketball talent and earned recognition for his athleticism and scoring prowess. Riders was selected as the 5 overall pick in the 1993 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He immediately made an impact by winning the 1994 slam dunk contest. He also won once the MIP award. However, his career was cut short due to off-court issues and disciplinary problems. In his 8-year NBA career, he won a ring with the Los Angeles Lakers, when Shaq and Kobe’s relationship was souring.

During a recent episode of the YouTube podcast All the Smoke, Rider disclosed an incident that unveiled the intense animosity existing between the Lakers’ esteemed players. Prior to joining the Lakers in 2000, Rider found himself entangled in a few heated episodes. There were allegations that he spat at an employee on one occasion and shattered a cell phone after missing a team flight. Hence, Shaq approached Rider at one point, seeking his involvement in a physical altercation with Kobe.

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After three days of practice sessions with the team, Shaq went to Rider and offered him $10,000 to fight Kobe. Rider stated, “When I first get to the Lakers, Shaq tells me, if you and Kobe get into it, it?s 10 G?s in the locker”. Shaq’s revelation took Rider aback. He was astonished to learn that Shaq kept such a substantial sum of money in cash in his locker room. Nonetheless, Rider displayed wisdom in his decision-making. He understood that engaging in a fight with Kobe would only intensify the scrutiny of his behavior outside the court and potentially lead to severe consequences. As a result, he declined the offer.

Isaiah Rider sheds light on Kobe Bryant’s greatness

Basketball enthusiasts widely acclaim Kobe Bryant as one of the all-time greatest players.?He entered the NBA directly from high school and faced challenges during his early years. However, his insatiable desire to improve and unwavering dedication propelled him to reach extraordinary levels of success. Remarkably, at the young age of 18, he became the youngest player ever to win a slam dunk contest. Additionally, at just 19 years old, he became the youngest NBA All-Star in history. Despite the well-known animosity between him and Shaq, Bryant remained resolute in his pursuit of winning an NBA championship.

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Rider saw his fire and appreciated his greatness. He said, “Kobe on the bench waiting, ready to go. When he got the gang, he was real. I’m just gonna say a wild, right, he’s kind of wild. But I remember calling my brothers at home like man, I just played against the rawest young 18-year-old that’s probably out there”. After their NBA Finals loss to the Pistons, the team was dismantled. However, Kobe and Shaq both went o to win more NBA championships.

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