Shaquille O’Neal’s “Paying Me Millions” Claim Likely Caused Big Lakers Fight, Says Best Selling Author

Shaquille O’Neal is no stranger to conflict. The larger-than-life NBA legend has been at the center of several infamous feuds, from his verbal sparring with Charles Barkley to his public fallout with Dwight Howard. However, the most captivating feud of his career remains his rivalry with Kobe Bryant during their time with the Los Angeles Lakers. The duo, known for their dominance on the court, was equally notorious for their clashes. Now a best-selling author has revealed a new reason for their animosity.

In a recent interview with Nik Atanackovic, Jeff Pearlman, who wrote Three-Ring Circus: Kobe, Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty, suggested O’Neal’s laid-back personality and ability to joke significantly contrasted with Bryant’s intense mentality.

“The Shaq-Kobe relationship was never great… Shaq was always in on the joke. Shaq understood it was ridiculous that you are paying me millions of millions of dollars to wear pajamas and shoot a ball through the hoop like that’s a joke and when he would nickname himself the ‘Big Aristotle’ or Shaq Diesel like he was in on the joke. And I was like, I said to him, it always seemed like that Kobe was literally thought of himself as the ‘Black Mamba’ and Shaq’s reply was ‘Bro you have no idea’ and like that was it, like Kobe was very literal, he was the ‘Black Mamba,” said Pearlman in the recent interview.

O’Neal signed a seven-year, $120 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers on July 18, 1996, which he might be pointing at. However, the feud ended after the seven-footer was traded to the Miami Heat. Bryant re-signed a contract worth $136 million to stay with the Lakers for seven years more. Since then, the basketball community saw dust settle on this rivalry and now O’Neal even refuses to regard this as a feud.

“The respect has to always be there. We don’t see eye-to-eye. But it ain’t a feud. It just looks like a feud. When I’m getting doubled, he’s the first dude I’m looking for,” said Shaq during an episode of his own Big Shaq podcast.

Shaq and Kobe’s feud was a complex mix of ego, leadership styles, and personal differences. While O’Neal’s larger-than-life presence commanded attention, Bryant’s laser-focused approach demanded respect. One of the most intense parts of this feud was in 2001 when during a practice session O’Neal had entered training camp out of shape, causing tension with Bryant, who had diligently improved over the offseason.

But the pair between Shaq and Kobe was easily one of history’s most dominant duos in the NBA. The two helped lead the Lakers to three consecutive championships from 2000 to 2002. In their 2000 playoff run, O’Neal would average 30.4 points and 15.4 rebounds per game.

Shaq’s power was complemented by the electric young shooting guard, Bryant, who added 29.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 16 games in the same period. There was no arguing about their on-court chemistry.

While their feud often overshadowed their achievements, time has softened the narrative. Pearlman’s revelation sheds light on the root of their conflict, offering fans a deeper understanding of the dynamics between two of basketball’s greatest icons. However, there was another small bout between the two icons.

When Kobe Bryant recalled his first fight with the seven-footer

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal are one of the greatest duos in the NBA’s long history. Their long-standing partnership with the Los Angeles Lakers is legendary, but the partnership didn’t exactly run smoothly all the time, and one such incident was revealed during an interview.

In a special episode of “Players Only” on NBA TV in February 2018, the two legends discussed their partnership, rivalry, and success together. One of the things they spoke about was their first fight.

“We were playing a pickup game,” Bryant said. “It was lockout season, South West College, we were playing a pickup game. We’re on opposite teams and trash-talking. And you kept saying, ‘Yeah, take that, lil b—h, take that, lil b—h.’ I’m looking around like, ‘F—er’s talking to me!’ And I said, ‘Hold on, there ain’t gonna be too many more of those,” said Bryant during the interview.

To which you said, ‘What you gonna do about it? What you gonna do about it?’ Next thing I knew, I saw a big hand coming this way, and I remember going this way. And I remember throwing some lollipop s–t, Olden Polynice came and caught, and then they all just kinda broke us apart, broke us up,” the late NBA icon further added.

Although the exact date of the feud was not mentioned during the episode, it can be speculated that it happened during the lockout season of 1995 or 1996. Kobe’s recollection of that fight underscores how their competitiveness pushed them—and the Lakers—to greatness.