"WE HAVE THE BEST COACH EVER, THE MOST DOMINANT PLAYER IN THE WORLD, AND THE BEST TEAM" – KOBE BRYANT'S DECLARATION AFTER THE LAKERS' THIRD-STRAIGHT TITLE
When victorious, differences and rifts die down, but the truth of the matter is that there were not-so-well signs back within the Los Angeles Lakers in 2002. The purple and gold had just won their third-straight NBA title at the time. It was understandable that everyone was hyped up, including the three key figures of that title campaign.
This involves head coach Phil Jackson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kobe Bryant. Surprisingly, none of them exhibited signs of discord, with each expressing confidence in securing more championship titles.
Of the three, there was probably no person who hailed the Lakers for their feat other than the “Black Mamba” himself.
“We have the best coach ever, the most dominant player in the world, and the best team. We'll be back next year. See you next year,” Bean said at the time via UPI.com.
Falling out
The feud between Shaq and Kobe is well-documented. Vino was concerned about how “The Diesel’s” health, something that would affect the team as a whole. At that point, it was a power struggle, and Jackson was caught between them.
Bryant admitted that he, O’Neal, and Jackson were all stubborn. Hence, the 11-time champion coach tried to balance things out but had difficulty getting through Showboat.
“It was very difficult for him to find that balance. I think he became frustrated he couldn't figure out a way to really reach me," Bryant shared with Graham Bensinger.
Lakers downfall
After three straight titles, the fortunes of the Lakers would take an abrupt turn. Although they managed to make it to the 2004 NBA Finals, Los Angeles would fall to the Detroit Pistons, 4-1.
It was a disappointing run, considering Kobe and Shaq got star veterans as help. Karl Malone and Gary Payton signed up for that all-or-nothing run, but the fabulous four failed to get it done during the 2003-04 season.
At the time, Malone and Payton were aging and at the tail end of their careers. Injuries took a toll on the Lakers that season, and as O’Neal, Bryant, and Malone struggled to stay healthy, things fell apart in LA.
After that forgettable run, the Lakers would trade O’Neal to the Miami Heat. The Big Aristotle’s feud with Kobe was seen as the reason behind that deal. Regardless, the 15-time All-Star would go on to win one more title with the Heat and hop from one team to another. He would officially retire in 2011.
It also saw the exit of their tactician, who branded Bryant as uncoachable in his book, “The Last Season: A Team in Search of Soul.”
Kobe-Jackson reunite
After taking a year off, Jackson would return as head coach of the purple and gold. However, it was only in 2008 that LA was able to get back on track. They reached the NBA Finals that year but lost to the Boston Celtics in six games.
The Lakers found their footing again the next year, clinching the 2009 title. Kobe and the team secured back-to-back wins in 2010, but their bid for a three-peat was thwarted by a second-round loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 playoffs.
Following Jackson's retirement after that postseason, the franchise tried out different head coaches. Meanwhile, Bryant continued to shine on the court despite facing injuries, eventually retiring in memorable style after the 2016 season.
2024-05-09T02:45:06Z dg43tfdfdgfd