Shaquille O’Neal won the Los Angeles Lakers three straight championships from 2000 to 2002. He was also awarded the three Finals MVP in those seasons, earning himself the most dominant ever tag. His partner Kobe Bryant did not get any of those three individual awards although some are saying he should have won at least one.
The narrative about Kobe that time was that he was the Robin to Shaq’s Batman. He was the sidekick. Tracy McGrady is not buying it. He thought the media made it look like that way and that they robbed the Black Mamba of an early superstar status.
McGrady, who had battles with Kobe in the 2000s when he transferred from the Orlando Magic to the Houston Rockets, said the media is to blame for Bryant getting the sidekick role despite his astounding numbers in the Lakers’ championship runs.
“That was the media. Because as players, when we watched this sh** when I’m watching Kobe in 2000, my brother can tell you, bro, I’m in my living room,” T-Mac said during his guesting in Club 520 Podcast hosted by former NBA player Jeff Teague.
“When I’m watching the NBA finals and Shaq fouls out of that game and Kobe takes over, bro, I’m running around my f**king house, cause that’s my dude, right?”
Kobe Bryant proved he can win without Shaq
McGrady was just five years older than the late Kobe Bryant but he admitted that he instantly became a fan of the Black Mamba because at a young age, he was able to carry the Lakers on his shoulders when Shaq went down.
“I’m running around my house, going crazy watching my dude take over this game, bro. That’s when I was like, ‘Oh yeah, this mother***er arrived, bro,’ like he is that dude,” he continued.
“So when I’m watching him at that time, I’m not looking at him to be a sidekick or a second option to Shaq. Hell no. I’m looking at him like he’s that dude. He was putting up crazy numbers alongside him.”
Bryant and Shaq eventually separated ways because of their personal issues. O’Neal won his fourth in 2006 when he suited for the Miami Heat.
Kobe eventually proved that he is indeed not the sidekick when he won two straight as the Lakers’ leader in 2009 and 2010. He got more rings than Shaq and now, he is among the NBA’s greatest.
For the latest Basketball Content
Make sure you are always updated on your favorite basketball players and teams. Follow us @HardwoodHeroics for the latest and trending news about NBA, college basketball, and more. Stay updated by reading more of our NBA articles by clicking here and college basketball by clicking here!
