Bryant's comments led Celtics to sign O'Neal
When the front-office of the Boston Celtics decided to add 7ft 1in Shaquille O’Neal to their roster, it wasn’t only because the big man was relatively affordable.
O’Neal signed a one-year-deal with the Celtics this summer worth $1.5m.
Their decision to sign the 38-year-old journeyman, who can still be effective playing limited minutes, was apparently sparked by comments made by Kobe Bryant, O’Neal’s ex-team-mate on
the Los Angeles Lakers.
When the Lakers beat the Celtics in the NBA Finals last June, Bryant won his fifth NBA championship ring. Directly after the game, Bryant was asked how it felt to get number five.
"I just got one more than Shaq,” he replied. “You can take that to the bank. You know how I am, I don't forget anything."
It was these comments that served as inspiration for Celtics president Danny Ainge and principal owner Wyc Grousbeck to go out and sign O’Neal, who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers last
season.
The Celtics organization was hoping that Bryant’s comments would further motivate Shaq to win another championship of his own and catch up to his long-time rival.
"The minute I heard Kobe [Bryant] say he had one more ring than Shaq, I said to Danny, ‘Let's go get Shaq,' and it happened,'' said Grousbeck.
The two NBA stars combined forces to win three consecutive NBA titles in 2000, 2001, and 2002 before their relationship turned sour.
Ever since O’Neal left the Lakers in 2004 for the Miami Heat, there has been a supposed rivalry between the two players. Some of this was built up by the media and the league but there
is evidence to suggest that some bad blood existed between the two ex-team-mates.
The NBA fed off the conflict, pitting the Lakers against the Heat as their Christmas Day game in the 2004 season. The strategy was successful, with the game drawing the best television
ratings for an NBA game since 1998.
At the age of 38, O’Neal is six years Bryant’s senior. And his age is starting to show with his statistical output.
O’Neal averaged only 12 points and 6.7 rebounds in 23.4 minutes per game last season with the Cavaliers. He only played in 53 of a possible 82 games.
Bryant is still producing at a high level, averaging 27 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5 assists last season. He played in 73 games during the regular season and led his team to the NBA championship,
where he won Finals MVP.
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