The 2005 Chapter of the Shaq-Kobe Feud

It was the most talked about topic coming into the 2004-2005 season. The rivalry between Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant had finally boiled over after the Lakers loss in the 2004 NBA Finals to the Detroit Pistons last July. Two of the brightest stars in the league could no longer coexist in Lakers uniforms.

After winning three NBA championships together on one of the best teams in NBA history, Shaq and Kobe's days as teammates officially ended on July 14, 2004 when the LA Lakers traded Shaquille O'Neal to the Miami Heat in exchange for Caron Butler, Brian Grant, Lamar Odom and a future first-round draft pick. Many speculated that Kobe forced that trade and threatened the Lakers front office that he would sign elsewhere last offseason when he was a free agent, if Shaq remained a Laker.

Their rivalry intensified when a story was leaked during this past fall that Kobe Bryant mentioned Shaquille O'Neal's infidelity with his O'Neal's wife, when Bryant was being questoined about a rape accusation. Furthermore, Kobe told investigators that Shaq used to pay his mistresses to keep silent about their affairs.

The duo first met on the court this season on Christmas night, when Shaq and Kobe never made eye contact, nor did they greet each other before or after the game. Shaq and the Miami Heat traveled to Los Angeles and won that contest by a score of 104-102 in a game that ended in overtime. In that game, Kobe registered 42 points and 6 assists, while Shaq score 24 points and snagged 11 rebounds.

The Heat and Lakers met up for the second and final time of the 2004-2005 season on Thursday night. Before the game, Shaq and Kobe actually exchanged a few pleasant words before Shaq extended his arm to shake Kobe's hand, but Kobe did not see Shaq's offering until Shaq had already pulled his hand away, in what was the most awkward scene of the night. The only other notable encounter between the two came in the second quarter when Bryant aggressively drove the lane, only to be met by O'Neal. Kobe bounced off of Shaq and he hit the floor hard, embracing his leg after the impact. As expected, O'Neal looked pleased with the outcome of the play when the whistle blew, even though he was called for a foul.

As for the game itself, it was hardly a close contest, as the Heat rolled to a 102-89 victory on their home court. Shaquille O'Neal finished the game with 25 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks, and he shot 11 for 19 for the game. Kobe Bryant scored 26 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and chalked up 3 assists after shooting just 2 for 17 in the second half (8 for 23 for the game). However, the biggest player of the game was not Bryant or O'Neal, but the second-year Heat guard Dwayne Wade, who teamed with Shaq to lead the Heat to victory. Wade ended the game with 27 points, 8 boards, 5 assists, and he shot 8 for 16 from the field.

It now appears obvious who was the most valuable Laker during the team's three-peat as NBA champions, which was one of the many sources of the rivalry between Kobe and Shaq. To analyze this argument, one can dissect the effect that the Shaquille O'Neal had on both the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers, respecively. The Miami Heat finished the 2003-2004 NBA season with a 42-40 record and a return to the playoffs. This year, with the addition of O'Neal, the Heat have dominated the league and are the current owners of the NBA's best record at 51-16. It also appears as though the team is even improving, as they have won 11 straight games. On the other hand, the LA Lakers have been unable to play at a consistent level, and have sputtered to a 32-32 record this season, including a three game losing streak. The 2003-2004 Lakers made it to the NBA Finals and lost, and finished the regular season with a record of 56-26. Evidently, as Shaq changed teams, he drastically improved his team and has helped the Heat emerge as the leading contender to win the champioship this year. Meanwhile, Kobe is struggling to lead the Lakers into the playoffs, as they are currently the 10th seed in the Western conference and are 1.5 games behind the 8th seed.