this is pure comedy. Buy/sell all the spin all you want but anyone who lived in LA knows how that all went down. Kobe positioned himself to hold LA over a barrel the moment he declined to sign a contract extension the year before he hit FA. Was Shaq immature, lack of work ethic, and lack of respect, yada, yada, yada... sure, absolutely... and none of that makes a lick of difference for a player of his stature STILL completely on top of his game and having just come off leading the team to the Finals.
Kobe held the team over a barrel and they took it. They let go of the greatest coach of all time (and really pushed him out the door) and then traded the most dominating player in the game... all within a couple weeks because Kobe had final say with FA impending. Does it look like that move has FINALLY worked out? Yeah, but to pretend he was gone because he was... well... Shaq, is pure stupidity/bitterness.
Very well said.....and you didn't have to allegedly here it from Dr. Buss. LMAO.
In fact, it's so well known that the breakup was caused by Shaq, it's coach made the following quotes:
"it was a psychological war"
"I don't believe we developed enough trust between us to win a championship."
"I won't coach this team next year if he is still here. He won't listen to anyone."
"It was not the first time Jackson requested the team trade him. He sought to trade him to the Phoenix Suns for Jason Kidd and Shawn Marion in the 1999-00 season"
"Jackson wrote that "playerX" was angry that "Player Y" received allowances from the Lakers organization, but that "nobody this year, or in any year I've coached, has received more 'allowances' than Player X."
"Player X" complained about the kind of plane he was given to fly to Colorado, Jackson wrote, adding "He should feel fortunate that he's not footing the bill himself."
"Player X" told Jackson that "Player Y's" presence on the team would affect his decision to stay with the Lakers, adding, "I'm tired of being a sidekick," Jackson wrote.
Damn that Shaq and all those things above. What a malcontent...........wait......my bad....Phil said all those things about Kobe.
What did Phil have to say about Shaq then?
"Jackson said he had run-ins with O'Neal as well but that coaching him was "an experience I will cherish forever."
Yep.....no doubt Shaq caused the breakup. After all Dr. Buss said so to you personally no less.