“One day we're gonna get them back” - Despite the Lakers' playoff loss to the Jazz in the 1997 playoffs, Shaquille O'Neal stood by Kobe Bryant
While Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant certainly have a strong case for being the greatest duo in NBA history, it took time for them to find their synergy on the court, especially during the most critical postseason moments. Safe to say, the only thing they shared in common in their early days together in LA was disappointment.
During the 1997 playoffs, when the Lakers faced off against the Utah Jazz in the second round, Kobe faced ridicule from the NBA world after airballing four times in the final five minutes in the fourth quarter, which led to the Jazz winning the decisive Game 5, 98-93. While the crowd had their moment at Kobe’s expense, Shaq rushed to his teammate’s defense and even boosted his morale.
"Look at all these people laughing at you. One day we’re gonna get them back," Jack MacMullan recalled Shaq's message to Kobe on 'The Icons Club.' "Don’t worry, someday everyone is gonna be screaming your name. Take this and learn from it."
Utah Jazz and Spurs forced LA Lakers to make big changes
Shaq was optimistic about Kobe honing his skills over time, with the pair also overcoming their playoff struggles. However, they went on to endure a defeat against the Utah Jazz in the following playoffs as well, this time a clean sweep in the Western Conference Finals.
Despite the Lakers being a solid team, they struggled to find effective solutions when it mattered the most in the playoffs. Another clean sweep, this time at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs in the 1999 playoffs, compelled the Purple and Gold to make substantial changes, eventually resulting in the appointment of the ‘Zen Master’ as their head coach before the 1999-00 season.
Shaq wasn’t sure about Phil Jackson
When Phil Jackson was hired to elevate an underperforming Lakers team, ‘Diesel’ initially harbored doubts about his prospects under Jackson’s leadership and style of play. Nevertheless, he held his reservations to himself, understanding that it would be premature to make demands until he secured an NBA championship.
Upon Jackson’s arrival in the organization, the Lakers experienced an immediate surge, culminating in the best record in the league in the 1999-00 season. More noticeably, O’Neal underwent a profound transformation, not only securing his lone MVP award but also, as per Rick Fox, developing a ‘thick skin,’ which ultimately paved the way for the franchise to win its first title since 1988.
"When we lost to the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs smacked us and Phil came in, something changed. Shaq put away the games and playfulness," Rick Fox said on Shaq's transformation under Phil. "He came a bitter, nasty hunter (as) he realized that the bitterness, the criticism wasn’t gonna stop until he won, and he developed a thick skin."
