When discussing the greatest upsets in the Association’s history, most people point to the Dallas Mavericks in 2011 when they beat the Miami Heat’s “Big 3” of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Right alongside that is the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 2004 Finals loss to the Detroit Pistons.
A team led by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant that had won three straight titles stumbled against the San Antonio Spurs, but then reloaded with Gary Payton and Karl Malone, and was expected to secure a fourth championship in five years.
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Payton and Malone were far from their prime, but still valuable veterans who were supposed to bring stability and experience after the disappointment against the Spurs. However, tensions were already brewing. Bryant’s frustrations with O’Neal’s conditioning, approach, and his own desire to finally be the number one option were boiling over. On top of that, Kobe was embroiled in his sexual assault case, which added immense strain.
The inside details have always been murky
Still, the Lakers had the talent to reach the Finals. But once there, they were dismantled by a defensive-minded Pistons team led by Chauncey Billups, falling 4–1 in a shocking defeat. On the “Straight Game” podcast, Shaq reflected on what went wrong that season.
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“You know you have to be together to win a championship,” he said. “That was the year. I’ll let you figure out what that means. But that was the year when a lot of stuff was going on, and we weren’t really together. So he [Kobe Bryant] did the right thing, when we lost, he said, ‘Hey, we have to get rid of Shaq. Or I’m not coming back.’ So they chose a younger guy, and then I was traded a couple of days later.”
While much has been said about that season, the inside details have always been murky. Years later, Phil Jackson wrote in his book “The Last Season” about Kobe’s relentless desire to take over, often breaking away from the system to play hero-ball, which disrupted team chemistry. That dysfunction, more than anything, doomed the Lakers.
The divide between the two stars was too deep
The Diesel’s words about needing unity shed light on the core issue. The divide between the two stars was too deep for even the Zen Master to bridge, and the addition of two aging legends with their own egos, The Glove and The Mailman, only made things worse. It became a failed attempt at a “superteam” run. Shaq recently recalled that series where he compared his relationship with the Black Mamba to “The Godfather” movies.
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“And if you look up at our relationship, it’s the classic tale of The Godfather,” he said. “You got the Godfather that came from Orlando, and he’s the Godfather. But you have a young capo. And finally [shows gun signals with his hands]. He’s Michael [Corleone], I’m the Godfather, ‘cuz remember when I came to L.A., I was already established.”
“I was the biggest thing in the league. So he’s there and he f—in’ wants it. We win three, we do a lot of deals, and then finally I get assassinated. They thought I was dead, and I relocated to Miami, and then I got to get it back. It’s business,” he added.
Kobe’s obsession with stepping into Michael Jordan’s shoes ultimately hurt the Lakers. Shaq, admittedly more laid-back at the time, was still dominant and productive. As long as he remained the number one option, he didn’t see an issue.
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Blame can be placed on both sides, but many believe Bryant’s determination to prove himself was the decisive factor. The bitter truth is that if the two superstars had found a way to coexist, the Lakers might have won several more championships together.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 29, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.