Shaquille O’Neal says Brian Shaw was the peacemaker at Los Angeles Lakers – NBA Update
Shaquille O’Neal has recently released a book, in which he has revealed a number of details that NBA fans were not familiar with earlier.
The recently retired NBA legend has in particular, a number of things to say about his time with the Los Angeles Lakers.
As expected, Shaq touched on his often public feud with super star teammate Kobe Bryant, but he has mentioned another teammate as well, and in a positive light. That man is Brian Shaw, who played alongside Shaq in those days and
later became an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Diesel reveals in his book that his animosity with Bryant was at its peak in the 2003-2004 season, especially after Kobe went on TV to criticize the centre over his weight. A confrontation ensued, but Brian Shaw defused the
situation.
O’Neal says that afterwards Shaw was present throughout the season to make the two stars co-exist in the same side, a side that went on to appear in the NBA Finals that season, albeit losing out to the Detroit Pistons.
"Somehow Kobe and I made it through the rest of the [2003-04 season] without any major issues. BShaw managed to get us back on track.” Shaq said in the book.
He also gave credit to Shaw for stepping up when none of the icons from the past, or the Lakers management, had the guts to make a statement or take a side. Shaw though stuck to the task and kept both players’ heads in the game.
“It’s kind of funny when you think about it. All of these supposed Lakers leaders who care so much about the franchise, all these Lakers legends, none of them ever had the courage to say anything to Kobe and me. Not Kareem, not
Magic, not Mitch Kupchak, none of them. Only Brian Shaw took us on.”
He also criticized the Lakers for not hiring Shaw as head coach this summer, after the retirement of the legendary Phil Jackson. Shaq was adamant that Shaw had earned the head coaching job. He had vast experience of working at
the franchise as a player and coach while also having the backing of senior players.
Still, for some reason, the Lakers decided to pass him on and hire Mike Brown instead.
“Yet when the Lakers job came up in 2011 they didn’t give Brian Shaw a chance by looking right past him. Go figure."
O’Neal himself left the Lakers after that season when his contract was not renewed. He joined the Miami Heat where he won another NBA World Championship before becoming a journeyman towards the end of his career.
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