The rivalry between Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal proves that sometimes teammates can be the most hostile enemies. Bryant and O’Neal had the most high-profile instance of two superstar teammates clashing and still winning titles. The tension still existed enough to have the Los Angeles Lakers split them up.

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Both players made it clear they had no love for each other when the team decided to trade O’Neal away and keep Bryant. Few sports rivalries have ever reached this level of personal issues in the locker room. The fascinating history between the two deserves another look. NBA fans will be in awe of the Shaq vs Kobe rivalry.

10 Shaq Felt Kobe Was Arrogant From Rookie Season

Ron Harper
credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY NETWORK

The tension between Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant started their first season on the Los Angeles Lakers together. O’Neal signed in free agency leaving the Orlando Magic during the same summer that Bryant was acquired on draft night out of high school.

The tension started when Bryant made his first comments to Shaq and the rest of the locker room during training camp. A book titled Three-Ring Circus looking in depth at the Lakers revealed that Kobe’s first words were “no one is going to be punk me” rather than having a warm introduction to star things off poorly.

9 Kobe Hated That Shaq Showed Up Out Of Shape

Shaq Good Burger
via: pinterest.com

Another issue in the early portion of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal teaming together featured Bryant’s unhappiness over Shaq’s condition. The duo won three NBA Championships in their first six seasons together, but it wasn't a perfect relationship by any means.

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Bryant grew unhappy in the middle of the three-peat when O’Neal started showing up to training camp out of shape and didn’t get into peak mode until the middle of the season. The anger of Kobe stemmed from having to do more in the season then having the offense run around Shaq during the playoffs.

8 Shaq Actually Defended Kobe's Playoff Airballs

Kobe Bryant Shaquille O'Neal

© RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports

The first playoff experience for a young Kobe Bryant saw him and the Los Angeles Lakers facing the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference Semi-Finals. Bryant airballed a game-winner at the end of the final Game 5 that would have scared any other rookie from shooting again in overtime.

A total of four airballs at the end of regulation and overtime saw fans stunned at Kobe taking them out of the game. Eddie Jones claimed Bryant didn’t follow the plays designed for him. Shaquille O’Neal was surprisingly one of the few Lakers to publicly defend Kobe, even later claiming that Jones was scared of that big moment.

7 They Had Real Fights

2000 Lakers

© RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports

Many NBA players have had drama with a war of words going back and forth, but it almost never gets physical. Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant had a rare scenario of the opposite when things actually got physical between them.

The two played an intense pickup game during the offseason on opposing teams with a lot of trash talk. Shaq using the B-word in trash talk led to Bryant making personal insults. This caused O’Neal to throw the first shot that connected with Kobe never landing one back.

6 Shaq Stopped Kobe From Hazing Older Rookie

Kobe-Bryant Lakers
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Eric Chenowith was a journeyman bouncing around various basketball leagues and trying to find his way into the NBA. The Los Angeles Lakers added Chenowith to training camp roster when Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant were established stars.

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Bryant tried to make Chenowith join the other rookies entering the league as those who had to follow his orders as part of hazing despite being the same age. Shaq stepped up and told Chenowith to not do anything Kobe said with the promise that he’d have his back if anything escalated.

5 Shaq Lost Police Officer Role For Dissing Kobe In Rap

Shaq Cop
via: foxsports.com

One of the most random outside activities from Shaquille O’Neal away from basketball is becoming an honorary reserve police officer. O’Neal held that role in various states throughout the years and still holds that passion.

However, a controversial moment in the feud with Kobe Bryant caused an issue there. Shaq delivered a diss rap after Kobe lost the 2008 NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics. The obscenity-laced rap caused multiple sheriff departments to revoke his deputyship.

4 Kobe Wanted To Sign With The Clippers If Lakers Didn't Trade Shaq

Kobe Bryant
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The issues between Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal reached a boiling point at the end of the threepeat and reached the point of no return after. Bryant was ready to leave to have his own team if O’Neal was still around during free agency.

The 2004 summer saw Kobe’s management making threats to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers. Lakers management made a choice to keep Bryant by trading Shaq to the Miami Heat. Kobe opted to stay with the Lakers, but the threat of joining a team in the same venue was clearly a power play.

3 Shaq Ring Chased At End Of Career Due To Kobe

Shaquille O'Neal Chris Bosh

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Shaquille O’Neal is an all-time great NBA player, but he had one big negative in the final years of his career. The last chapter of his career featured Shaq jumping from team to team to ring chase due to Kobe Bryant tying and passing him in total championships.

O’Neal joined the Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics hoping each would give him another ring to tie Bryant before retirement. Kobe having back-to-back NBA Championship wins clearly impacted Shaq’s decision-making.

2 First Meeting As Opponents Did Incredible Ratings

Kobe Vs Shaq
via: espn.com

The infamous trade of Shaquille O’Neal joining the Miami Heat created arguably the most highly anticipated regular season game of all-time. NBA personnel brilliantly saved the matchup of Miami visiting the Los Angeles Lakers for Christmas day during their premiere lineup.

The event was the most watched NBA game since the TV deal changed in 2002 with 13.2 million viewers choosing to spend their holiday watching the drama. Kobe Bryant had the better individual game with 42 points, but Shaq’s team won the game by two points in overtime.

1 Shaq Made Sure To Attend Kobe's Final Game

Kobe Last Game

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The tension between Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant started to ease shortly after O’Neal retired and moved into broadcasting. Bryant had become more mature and even expressed remorse for not appreciating the golden years with Shaq better.

The same could be said for O’Neal revealing they could have won five straight titles if they were on the same page. Both guys made peace to the point that Shaq went out of his way to attend Kobe’s last game as a fan and celebrated with joy as Bryant scored 60 points in shocking fashion.