PHOENIX — Sam Smith covered the Bulls all through Phil Jackson’s glory years in Chicago, so I always expect Jackson is going to be extra forthcoming and insightful when Smith is on the scene. And Smith, formerly with the Chicago Tribune and now working for the Bulls’ Web site, asked Jackson just now if the coach ever allows himself any what-if thinking about what might have been if Shaquille O’Neal had been more open to a secondary role to Kobe Bryant while a Laker.
Jackson’s response: “It was never about that with him. It was never an issue in that regard. It was purely an economic situation with our owner. It wasn’t anything about their personalities or one or the other guy. It was purely economics for our owner.”
Jackson alluded to O’Neal’s initial demands for $30 million a year from Lakers owner Jerry Buss before eventually accepting $20 million a year in his contract extension from the Miami Heat.
“Shaq accepted that when he was in Miami and went forward,” Jackson said. “And I think if he would’ve done that in L.A., he would still be there – if he would’ve voiced that type of sentiment at that time. It wasn’t about the personalities.”
Given how eager Bryant was to lead a team in 2004 — and could’ve done just that by signing with the Clippers — I had to say then to Jackson that Bryant probably wouldn’t have stayed a Laker if O’Neal had.
“You may say that, but it might not have been made for whatever reason. We anticipated that that would be something going forward, and I think the owner had every intention of revamping or restructuring Shaq’s contract and keeping Kobe. It was a done deal (to trade O’Neal for economic reasons) before that could even be a possibility.”
Recent headlines …
- Shaq has had time and rest to gear up for tonight
- A memorable trip with Shaq and Kobe, Part 2
- Kobe and Shaq memories, Part 1
- Kobe and Shaq reunite in Phoenix
- Gasol is quick to the point
Shaq’s loosing again.
So how does yer @ss taste, shack?
viclue Says:
November 19th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
viclue Says:
November 19th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
OK! Listen fellas. I’m going to need an ice tea drink after I address this LeBron James youngest to score past Kobe. While I understand the NBA’s effort to use James as a marketing tool for the league, I must state that the truth and logic ought to applied to the scenario. Let me get straight to it. Lebron is nearly 24 years of age, right? right. He just broke Kobe’s record of reaching 11,00 points the youngest right? right. Ok. I wonder with all the hoopla about James and all that he is accomplishing in passing Kobe as youngest in scoring, if anyone has thought about the real reality that James has only done this a little more a year earlier than Kobe. This is tricky because Kobe really didn’t start starting untill his 3rd year in the league. His first year, Kobe only averaged about 3-4 points a game off the bench. The next year, Kobe averaged 7 points a game off the bench. His third year, Kobe averaged 13 points a game as a starter. His fourth year Kobe averaged 17 points a game as a starter. Then he just blew up and began rounding into what we know him as today. That is four years that Kobe wasn’t scoring even 20 points per game. If you ask me, if James had been drafted by a team that was not so God awful, he would not have surplanted Kobe as the youngest. All I’m trying to say is, nobody in the league can compare to what Kobe has done since cominiing into the league. Take Kobe’s crown from James, and give back to whom it rightfully belongs. One Kobe Bean Bryant.