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Shaq's New Book; Comments on Kobe Feud

Tue Nov 01, 2011 1:20 pm

With the help of Jackie MacMullan, Shaq's got a book coming out November 15th. Deadspin has a few excerpts, the lengthiest of which offers details on the feud with Kobe.

So I'm on edge because I don't have a new deal, and Kobe is on edge because he might be going to jail, so we're taking it out on each other. Just before the start of the '03-'04 season the coaching staff called us in and said, "No more public sparring or you'll get fined." ... Phil was tired of it. Karl Malone and Gary Payton were sick of it. ... So what happens? Immediately after that Kobe runs right out to Jim Gray and does this interview where he lets me have it. He said I was fat and out of shape. He said I was milking my toe injury for more time off, and the injury wasn't even that serious. (Yeah, right. It only ended my damn career.) He said I was "lobbying for a contract extension when we have two Hall of Famers playing pretty much for free." I'm sitting there watching this interview and I'm gonna explode. Hours earlier we had just promised our coach we'd stop. It was a truce broken. I let the guys know, "I'm going to kill him."

Kobe stands up and goes face-to-face with me and says, "You always said you're my big brother, you'd do anything for me, and then this Colorado thing happens and you never even called me." I did call him. ... So here we are now, and we find out he really was hurt that we didn't stand behind him. That was something new. I didn't think he gave a rat's ass about us either way. "Well, I thought you'd publicly support me, at least," Kobe said. "You're supposed to be my friend."

Brian Shaw chimed in with "Kobe, why would you think that? Shaq had all these parties and you never showed up for any of them. We invited you to dinner on the road and you didn't come. Shaq invited you to his wedding and you weren't there. Then you got married and didn't invite any of us. And now you are in the middle of this problem, this sensitive situation, and now you want all of us to step up for you. We don't even know you." ...
Everyone was starting to calm down when I told Kobe, "If you ever say anything like what you said to Jim Gray ever again, I will kill you."

Kobe shrugged and said, "Whatever."
[...]
From that day on, I was done dealing with Kobe. I was done dealing with Jim Gray, too. What goes around, comes around. When he got fired, he actually had the nerve to call me and ask me to help him out. What, did you lose Kobe's number?


Sounds like it might be worth checking out, seems like it'll be an interesting combination of juicy gossip and ego.

Re: Shaq's New Book; Comments on Kobe Feud

Tue Nov 01, 2011 1:28 pm

Better part:
He was so young and so immature in some ways, but I can tell you this: everything Kobe is doing now, he told me all the way back then he was going to do it. We were sitting on the bus once and he told me, "I'm going to be the number one scorer for the Lakers, I'm going to win five or six championships, and I'm going to be the best player in the game." I was like, "Okay, whatever." Then he looked me right in the eye and said, "I'm going to be the Will Smith of the NBA."

Re: Shaq's New Book; Comments on Kobe Feud

Tue Nov 01, 2011 2:05 pm

Yeah that's a great quote, an interesting parallel for a young Kobe to make. I guess MIB was big at the time.

Besides, Robert Horry is the true Will Smith of the NBA.

Re: Shaq's New Book; Comments on Kobe Feud

Tue Nov 01, 2011 3:13 pm

Despite not hearing Kobe's side of story, I actually think his story is credible and things add up to make senses due to Kobe's rep and happenings in the past.

Re: Shaq's New Book; Comments on Kobe Feud

Tue Nov 01, 2011 4:01 pm

Phil Jackson's book published after the 2004 season would seem to corroborate at least some of what Shaq has said. However, I'm guessing that on the whole any responsibility Shaq shares in the rift and falling out will be downplayed, since at the end of the day it is his book.

Re: Shaq's New Book; Comments on Kobe Feud

Tue Nov 01, 2011 11:09 pm

benji wrote:Better part:
He was so young and so immature in some ways, but I can tell you this: everything Kobe is doing now, he told me all the way back then he was going to do it. We were sitting on the bus once and he told me, "I'm going to be the number one scorer for the Lakers, I'm going to win five or six championships, and I'm going to be the best player in the game." I was like, "Okay, whatever." Then he looked me right in the eye and said, "I'm going to be the Will Smith of the NBA."

This is going to make Sit love Kobe even more :lol:

Re: Shaq's New Book; Comments on Kobe Feud

Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:20 am

Andrew wrote:Yeah that's a great quote, an interesting parallel for a young Kobe to make. I guess MIB was big at the time.


I guess they are both from Philly and explains Kobe's attempted foray into rap and acting.

The X wrote:
benji wrote:Better part:
He was so young and so immature in some ways, but I can tell you this: everything Kobe is doing now, he told me all the way back then he was going to do it. We were sitting on the bus once and he told me, "I'm going to be the number one scorer for the Lakers, I'm going to win five or six championships, and I'm going to be the best player in the game." I was like, "Okay, whatever." Then he looked me right in the eye and said, "I'm going to be the Will Smith of the NBA."


This is going to make Sit love Kobe even more :lol:


I smiled when I read the quote yesterday. :)

Re: Shaq's New Book; Comments on Kobe Feud

Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:52 am

That too, I suppose.

Re: Shaq's New Book; Comments on Kobe Feud

Thu Nov 03, 2011 5:16 pm

Some more...

http://www.hoopsworld.com/nba-am-shaq-d ... be-lebron/
A few minutes later Kobe pulled up. Brian said to him, “Shaq is going to kill you. He’s going to f*** you up on sight.”

Kobe grinned and said, “Ooooh, am I supposed to be scared?”

“Yes,” Brian told him. “This is no joke.”

They get me and Kobe into the theater and instantly it’s a shouting match. We’re cursing each other and calling each other names and I’m making a move for Kobe when BShaw steps in and tells us both to sit down.
Somehow Kobe and I made it through the rest of the year without any major issues. BShaw managed to get us back on track. It’s kind of funny when you think about it. All of these supposed Lakers leaders who care so much about the franchise, all these Lakers legends, none of them ever had the courage to say anything to Kobe and me. Not Kareem, not Magic, not Mitch Kupchak, none of them. Only Brian Shaw took us on. Yet when the Lakers job came up in 2011 they didn’t give Brian Shaw a chance by looking right past him. Go figure.

Our coach, Mike Brown, was a nice guy, but he had to live on edge because nobody was supposed to be confrontational with LeBron. Nobody wanted him to leave Cleveland, so he was allowed to do whatever he wanted to do.

I remember one day in a film session LeBron didn’t get back on defense after a missed shot. Mike Brown didn’t say anything about it. He went to the next clip and it was Mo Williams not getting back and Mike was saying, “Yo, Mo, we can’t have that. You’ve got to hustle a little more.” So Delonte West is sitting there and he’s seen enough and he stands up and says, “Hold up, now. You can’t be pussyfooting around like that. Everyone has to be accountable for what they do, not just some of us.” Mike Brown said, “I know, Delonte. I know.” Mike knew Delonte was right. …

That crazy motherfucker Delonte West is the man! :lol:

Re: Shaq's New Book; Comments on Kobe Feud

Thu Nov 03, 2011 5:33 pm

I always tell people in terms of being tough on the young stars, I was a 10 with Kobe and a 4 with DWade and a 1 with LeBron.

Is he talking about how tough he was or how many seasons he had left in his career?

Re: Shaq's New Book; Comments on Kobe Feud

Thu Nov 03, 2011 5:41 pm

I’m not sure if Kobe is going to listen to Mike Brown. LeBron never really did. Here’s what we do know: Kobe will definitely be in charge.

Brown is a scapegoat for Kobe to put up another great stats season while the Lakers fail as a team. Phil had him under control for the success of the team. Now, it's different.

I always tell people in terms of being tough on the young stars, I was a 10 with Kobe and a 4 with DWade and a 1 with LeBron.

Kobe refused to give up the team while Wade did untill he realized that he needed to take the game over himself. Lebron? There was no way it was Shaq's team, thus Shaq had no business to confront anyone but to follow.

There’s no question in Game 5 LeBron was kind of out of it. … I always believed he could turn it on at any moment, but for some reason he didn’t. Not against the Celtics in 2010 and not against the Mavericks in 2011. It was weird.

Weird indeed. Suddenly Bron decided to go back to himself of the beginning of the season where he was deferring to others and poorly facilitating. But a triple double he had.

Re: Shaq's New Book; Comments on Kobe Feud

Thu Nov 03, 2011 6:02 pm

Somehow Kobe and I made it through the rest of the year without any major issues. BShaw managed to get us back on track. It’s kind of funny when you think about it. All of these supposed Lakers leaders who care so much about the franchise, all these Lakers legends, none of them ever had the courage to say anything to Kobe and me. Not Kareem, not Magic, not Mitch Kupchak, none of them. Only Brian Shaw took us on. Yet when the Lakers job came up in 2011 they didn’t give Brian Shaw a chance by looking right past him. Go figure.


Would Shaq have listened to Kareem? I vaguely recall him taking some potshots at him at times. Magic might've had more success, but if he'd said something I have feeling Shaq would've shrugged it off and later say it wasn't his place. I'm not sure how much respect he ever had for Mitch Kupchak either, so I doubt him stepping in would've made a difference. I'd suggest only someone like Brian Shaw (a respected veteran teammate) or Phil Jackson could've realistically stepped in and made any kind of difference.

When it comes down to it though, the Shaq-Kobe feud was the fault of two people: Shaq and Kobe. We could blame a number of other people for not stepping in, but at the end of the day it comes down to two stubborn individuals who wouldn't put ego aside, sort out their differences like adults and put the team ahead of themselves.

Re: Shaq's New Book; Comments on Kobe Feud

Thu Nov 03, 2011 6:04 pm

NovU wrote:Brown is a scapegoat for Kobe to put up another great stats season while the Lakers fail as a team. Phil had him under control for the success of the team. Now, it's different.

Kobe set the all-time usage record and refused to shoot in the second half of a game 7 under Jackson.
Andrew wrote:Would Shaq have listened to Kareem? I vaguely recall him taking some potshots at him at times. Magic might've had more success, but if he'd said something I have feeling Shaq would've shrugged it off and later say it wasn't his place. I'm not sure how much respect he ever had for Mitch Kupchak either, so I doubt him stepping in would've made a difference. I'd suggest only someone like Brian Shaw (a respected veteran teammate) or Phil Jackson could've realistically stepped in and made any kind of difference.

When it comes down to it though, the Shaq-Kobe feud was the fault of two people: Shaq and Kobe. We could blame a number of other people for not stepping in, but at the end of the day it comes down to two stubborn individuals who wouldn't put ego aside, sort out their differences like adults and put the team ahead of themselves.

You misread it. He means for them to step in and tell the youngin to get in line behind the big fella until it's his time.
Last edited by benji on Thu Nov 03, 2011 6:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Re: Shaq's New Book; Comments on Kobe Feud

Sat Nov 05, 2011 12:46 pm

More Shaq dissing. Big Baby and Nate this time.
“Big Baby” Davis kept looking me off and taking it himself. Doc is shouting at him to go inside, but he won’t. So Doc calls timeout and draws up a play for me. I go out there, and I back Andrew Bynum way under the rim. I’m loose, I’m ready. I’ve got Bynum under the basket and again, Baby won’t give me the ball. So I go up to him and say, “If you ever miss me again I’m going to punch you in the face.” I was hot.

Two nights later we’re playing in Sacramento and here we go again. I take three shots the entire game and again I’ve got my man isolated underneath the basket, and Baby ignores me and takes a jump shot. So the next time we’re in the huddle I let Baby have it.

I tell him, “Pass the [expletive] ball inside.” He comes back at me a little bit and now I’m really heated. All hell is breaking loose. We’re going back and forth. Doc is standing there and he’s not saying a word. The message is pretty clear: Work this out yourselves. I tell Baby, “You’re a selfish player. Everyone on this team knows it.” Hey, all the fans knew it. He takes shots when he shouldn't."

I wasn’t surprised at all when he got traded. Nate was always trying to get noticed by the public. He was always tweeting videos of himself punking his teammates ... Some people are a little too focused on Twitter and Nate was one of them. He was too worried about how many followers he had. He kept saying, “Shaq, I need more people. Help me out.”

Re: Shaq's New Book; Comments on Kobe Feud

Sat Nov 05, 2011 1:34 pm

Is it safe to say Shaq has very few friends left when it comes to current and former players?

Re: Shaq's New Book; Comments on Kobe Feud

Sat Nov 05, 2011 4:42 pm

I wanna hear some more about Shaq's time in Cleveland!
csnne.com wrote:The president turns to Ray, points to Rondo and says, “Hey Ray, why don’t you teach this kid how to shoot.” Everyone starts laughing, and Rays says, “Nah, that’s why he’s got to give the ball to me. I’ll take care of the shooting.”

Rondo being dissed by Obama was cold! I understand it was a joke but man...

Re: Shaq's New Book; Comments on Kobe Feud

Sat Nov 05, 2011 4:53 pm

It's shaping up to be an interesting read. It might be something to be taken with a grain of salt, but it'll be entertaining at the very least.

Re: Shaq's New Book; Comments on Kobe Feud

Sat Nov 05, 2011 6:11 pm

Shaq's releasing his frustrations through his book. :lol:

I wasn’t surprised at all when he got traded. Nate was always trying to get noticed by the public. He was always tweeting videos of himself punking his teammates ... Some people are a little too focused on Twitter and Nate was one of them. He was too worried about how many followers he had. He kept saying, “Shaq, I need more people. Help me out.”


:lol: :lol:

Re: Shaq's New Book; Comments on Kobe Feud

Sat Nov 05, 2011 7:45 pm

I'm surprised Shaq can read and write.

Re: Shaq's New Book; Comments on Kobe Feud

Sun Nov 06, 2011 4:15 am

He got help.

Re: Shaq's New Book; Comments on Kobe Feud

Sun Nov 06, 2011 6:17 pm

dang I want in on this gossipy shit

Re: Shaq's New Book; Comments on Kobe Feud

Tue Nov 08, 2011 9:07 am

shadowgrin wrote:More Shaq dissing. Big Baby and Nate this time.
“Big Baby” Davis kept looking me off and taking it himself. Doc is shouting at him to go inside, but he won’t. So Doc calls timeout and draws up a play for me. I go out there, and I back Andrew Bynum way under the rim. I’m loose, I’m ready. I’ve got Bynum under the basket and again, Baby won’t give me the ball. So I go up to him and say, “If you ever miss me again I’m going to punch you in the face.” I was hot.

Two nights later we’re playing in Sacramento and here we go again. I take three shots the entire game and again I’ve got my man isolated underneath the basket, and Baby ignores me and takes a jump shot. So the next time we’re in the huddle I let Baby have it.

I tell him, “Pass the [expletive] ball inside.” He comes back at me a little bit and now I’m really heated. All hell is breaking loose. We’re going back and forth. Doc is standing there and he’s not saying a word. The message is pretty clear: Work this out yourselves. I tell Baby, “You’re a selfish player. Everyone on this team knows it.” Hey, all the fans knew it. He takes shots when he shouldn't."

I wasn’t surprised at all when he got traded. Nate was always trying to get noticed by the public. He was always tweeting videos of himself punking his teammates ... Some people are a little too focused on Twitter and Nate was one of them. He was too worried about how many followers he had. He kept saying, “Shaq, I need more people. Help me out.”

There's a Celtics blog that has tried to find the exact play Shaq is mentioning in that part:

http://www.redsarmy.com/home/2011/11/th ... nigan.html

Re: Shaq's New Book; Comments on Kobe Feud

Wed Nov 09, 2011 8:20 am

Interesting...makes you wonder what else is fabricated, though again I reckon the book would be an entertaining read regardless. Nice research by those guys.

Re: Shaq's New Book; Comments on Kobe Feud

Wed Nov 09, 2011 2:37 pm

That was a good post on the Celtics blog.

The Shaq book looks to be pretty interesting but before I could even get my hands on it, it's probably all been quoted on the internet. :lol:

Re: Shaq's New Book; Comments on Kobe Feud

Wed Nov 09, 2011 5:03 pm

That's a fair point, we could be seeing the juiciest bits already.
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