After an ugly split, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal met as opponents on Christmas Day in 2004.
The Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal duo may go down as the greatest to have played NBA basketball. Arguably, no one could spark the dominance when both players locked into the game. An undeniable chemistry was highlighted by two unconventional paths to the top of the NBA.
A turn for the worst occurred at the end of the duo’s last run to the Finals. Bryant’s rape allegations, losing to an underdog Detroit Pistons team, and the decision to extend Shaq beyond the 2004 season were the head of the team’s issues.
You may also like: Kobe and Michael Jordan: from competitors to brothers (video)
It was an extremely ugly divorce as both players brought the Los Angeles Lakers plenty of great times. Public feuds and alleged infidelity revelations were at the center of the players’ separation. To the fans, it was no surprise when the two met for the first time as opponents on Christmas Day in 2005 that the game would be the buzz of the season.
Shaq was the head honcho in Miami, with a young Dwyane Wade and company, while Kobe led a ragtag bunch featuring Lamar Odom and Chucky Atkins. The tension was so thick that it could be cut with a knife. The game was about as close as a fan would desire with Shaq and Kobe put on a show against each of their matchups.
