Shaq denies there was ever a feud between him and Kobe.
Of course, it certainly looked that way from the outside, but the big fella denies that was ever the case.
“What y’all have to understand, there was never a feud,” Shaq said on The Big Podcast. “You got to understand there’s one boss and one boss only, and a lot of times, you know, you got people that work for you, it don’t go like that.
“However, the respect has to always be there. We don’t see eye-to-eye, but it ain’t a feud, it just looks like a feud. Because I’m gonna keep it real, when I’m getting doubled, he the first dude I’m looking for. When he getting double, I’m the first dude he looking for. I hate the outside (people) that say you have to be this, you have to be that. No you don’t. No you don’t. You don’t need all that.”
Whether or not you want to call it feud, the tension between Kobe and Shaq was palpable at its peak in the early 2000s.
The conflict between them was fueled by a clash of egos, competitive tension, and differences in personalities and work ethic.
Kobe, known for his fierce drive and determination, clashed with Shaq, who had a more laid-back approach to training and conditioning.
Their differences led to public spats and criticisms directed at each other through the media, with Kobe questioning Shaq’s work ethic and commitment to the game, while Shaq criticized Kobe for being selfish on the court.
However, both men made amends in the years that followed, and Shaq has had nothing but good things to say about Kobe for a long time now.