The Independence of Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal shared an MVP award – and the spotlight – in the 2009 NBA All-Star Game.
It was a reunion. It was a sentimental statement. And it was even more evidence as to why Kobe needed Shaquille to leave L.A. five years ago.
The summer after losing to the Detroit Pistons in the 2004 NBA Finals, the Lakers decided to make a change. After a five-year run that included three championships and four Finals appearances, their two larger-than-Los Angeles stars could no longer co-exist.
O’Neal was frustrated with the team’s desire to appease Bryant at all costs. And rightfully so. The Big Aristotle wasn’t just the most imposing figure in the NBA, he was the most dominant. After Detroit dismissed the Lakers, coach Phil Jackson was forced out. Soon thereafter, O’Neal had seen enough. He demanded a trade and, on July 14, 2004, he was sent to Miami.
Depending on who you listened to, the dismantling of one of the NBA’s all-time tandems could be blamed on team general manager Mitch Kupchak, Jackson, any member of the Buss family, O’Neal, or Bryant. Truth be told, they were all partially responsible for the empire’s descent.
But it was Kobe who was scorched.
They called him selfish. They whispered about his prima donna personality. They said he was more concerned with individual trophies than championship rings.
No one could understand why he wouldn’t want Shaq as a teammate, yet Kobe foresaw what we couldn’t foresee. For each title Kobe collected, Shaq was given the credit. Kobe craved independence because his NBA immortality hinged on how he would handle it. He wouldn’t be competing against the rest of the league; he would compete against history.
And it all makes sense now.
Sure, Kobe lost, but he overcame it. Sure, he was ridiculed, but he endured it. And, last year, Bryant finally broke through. He led the Lakers to the NBA Finals. On his own.
On Sunday, Kobe and Shaq teamed up once again. And, just like the old days, they won. However, unlike the old days, the recognition was equally divided.
on an unrelated note...
On a slightly unrelated note, I am still confused by all of the recent Shaq and Kobe chatter. Obviously them teaming up again for the first time in the ASG provides good talk show fodder, but why are people talking about them ending up back together on the Lakers like it is actually a possibility? Has anyone from the Lakers said anything about being interested in Shaq? Has Kobe uttered word one about having any desire to be paired back up with Diesel?
As far as I can gather, this has all been churned up by the Big Spin Doc. I love Shaq. I love him as an entertainer. I think he all too often is underrated by casual fans of the game, passing off his accomplishments as being due to the fact that he is "just huge." He is, and has been a talented basketball player for a long time now. However, he's also got some talent when it comes to getting people talking.
I am, and always have been a Suns fan. As blind as I normally am to their lack of a chance at a title, even I know it's not happening this year. Trust me, Shaq knows this too.
PS: As a Thunder follower, pretty bummed the Chandler deal just fell through. That ought to make for some interesting scenario's back home in nawlins for the front office. "Hey Tyson! How are you doing buddy? How's the ankle? Heard you're still a little banged up? Good to see you, we missed you!"
A Different Angle
How perfect. Right?
Wrong.
Shaq and Kobe will likely go down as two of the top ten players the NBA has ever seen. That is without question. For me, what is in question is the motivation behind giving O'Neal a lifetime achievement MVP alongside his longtime nemesis.
Clearly the league (David Stern especially) has hated that two of the NBA's biggest stars publicly hate each other. In recent years, the two have tried to fool us. Joking around before games, passing to each other during All-Star contests, rapping about how one ruined the others marriage, etc, etc. We don't buy it.
So where is the conspiracy? Well, we all know Shaq has seen better days on the court and is near retirement. What better opportunity for the league to manipulate the legacy of Bryant and O'Neal's relationship then to force them to share a sentimental moment during all-star weekend?
"See, they do like each other."
I know what your saying. Yes, the media does vote on the MVP award. I just want to know who had the final say in deciding to award a co-MVP, as there clearly wasn't a "tie" in mathematical terms. (Chris Paul also had a much better on-court performance than Shaq)
From a historical perspective I just hope the image of Shaq and Kobe hoisting up the MVP trophy together doesn't become an iconic one or one that successfully weakens to reality of their disdain for each other.
David Stern surely went to sleep happy last night. Me, I spent the right trying to decide what had more legitimacy: Joaquin Phoenix's appearance on Letterman last week, or the perfectly phony finale to the 2009 NBA All-Star weekend.
Todd Kapostasy
Two different points...
I agree that the co-MVP presentation was merely to placate some self-conscious issue David Stern worries about for his league (and an absolute travesty to Chris Paul and LeBron James).
I'm not contending that all is well between Shaq and Kobe or that its a beautiful union. I'm simply stating that Kobe's place amongst the all-time greats would not have been carved out had Shaq never left L.A.
For those of you unfamiliar with the relationship I have with Todd, its all in jest. He's the author behind the "Top 100 Basketball Commercials of All-Time" and his next article (debuting next week) will be groundbreaking.
Stay tuned...