The feud (or work beef, as both called it) between Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant went as far as saying that the other would’ve ended up as the GOAT if not for a flaw.
For Kobe, Shaq’s imperfection was that he was lazy and out of shape. During an interview with Patrick Bet-David in 2019, Bryant was asked who O’Neal would be if he had Kobe’s work ethic, and The Black Mamba said that Shaq would have been the GOAT and would probably have 12 championship rings.
Expectedly, Shaq did not take Kobe’s words nicely. When Kobe’s words were posted on Instagram by the Lakers Forever IG account, Shaq rebutted Kobe.
“You don’t get statues by not working hard” O’Neal commented on the post. In a second comment, Shaq also said: “U woulda had twelve if u passed the ball more especially in the finals against the Pistons #facts ”
Shaq admitted he never came to camp in shape
While Shaq did not have Kobe’s insane work ethic, he had his own way of doing things. O’Neal admitted that he never came to training camp in shape . But he also boasted that he always showed up when it mattered most and was still always able to get the job done.