Shaquille O’Neal: Lakers refused to trade me to Dallas

Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant famously led the Los Angeles Lakers to a historic three-peat from 2000 to 2002. O’Neal got much of the credit for those championships and deservingly won Finals MVP all three years, but on The Draymond Green Show, he stated it was down to Bryant sacrificing for the team. “He (Bryant) sacrificed, he did,” O’Neal said. “Cuz all those Finals where he helped me win a championship, he damn sure could have easily got Finals MVP, but that was our plan. Big dog, you for the first three (quarters) and the fourth, I take over. “My favorite game (was) in Indiana our first championship, where I fouled out,” O’Neal continued. “…. I already know if we f***ing lose this series, it’s going to be my fault. I’m looking at Kobe, motherf***** do me like (relax sign)… That motherf*****, he had like an incredible four or five — I knew then we was going to win our first championship.” -via Fade Away World / June 5, 2024