'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
With the third article in this series of debunking some of NBA's biggest myths, I will be upsetting a lot of delusional Kobe Bryant haters who are of the opinion that Shaquille O'Neal carried Kobe during the Lakers 3 Peat during the early 2000's.
This is clearly the most laughable and stupid narrative that is still talked about in "Kobe vs LeBron" or "Kobe vs Jordan" debates. Many people are brainwashed by the posts all over the internet that Kobe was just another guy on the team who enjoyed the 3 Championships only because of the brute force of one Mr. Shaq. In reality, Shaq needed Kobe just as much Kobe needed Shaq to win those three rings.
Debunking the Myth
A player who is the second best player on a championship team is not someone who has been "carried". A player who is carried is a player who has not contributed to the team's success.
Shaq was undoubtedly the more dominant player during those three years but that doesn't mean Kobe was just a role player. Kobe was consistently the second best player behind Shaq. In fact during some stretches, he took control of the proceedings and was, in fact, better than Shaq.
Scottie Pippen was the second best player on the Chicago Bulls team that won six Championships. I haven't heard anyone say that Pippen was carried by Jordan. I haven't heard anyone say Dwayne Wade was carried by LeBron James and Shaq through his three rings.
Was Kevin McHale carried by Larry Bird? Was Kyrie Irving carried by LeBron James? Were Klay Thompson and Draymond Green carried by Steph Curry and Kevin Durant? No. Then why are we using the same argument against Kobe?
Kobe and Shaq would've achieved more than just 3 rings if it weren't for their petty differences. But after they went their own ways, Kobe earned himself 2 more Championships while Shaq managed to get only 1. There is no denying the fact that Shaq was easily the most dominant player on the early 2000's but Kobe was not a sidekick. Kobe Bryant was anything but carried during the three Title Runs and the I have numbers to prove my point.
The First Championship - 1999-2000
Playoff Averages
Shaq - 30.7 points ,15.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists
Kobe - 21.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists
Kobe lead the Lakers in assists and was easily the best defender on that team. The offense ran through Shaq but Kobe put some amazing numbers throughout the Playoffs. Keep in mind, Kobe was only 21 years old at this point.
In the Western Conference Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers, the red-hot Blazers team lead by Rasheed Wallace and Scottie Pippen forced a game 7 and Kobe showed everyone why he was no second fiddle, as he put up 25 points and 7 assists while Shaq could manage to score only 18 points. If Kobe hadn't put his big-boy pants on, there's no way the Lakers would have won that game. It's that simple really.
In the Finals against Indiana Pacers lead by Reggie Miller, Shaq put on a show averaging 38 points through 6 games as Lakers won the series 4-2. Kobe's box score shows that he averaged only 16 points but that's not the full story.
Kobe got injured just 9 minutes into Game 2 and missed the rest of the game and did not play Game 3. In game 4, Kobe played 47 minuted on a badly injured ankle and scored 28 points including 8 straight points (4 field goals) in Overtime to carry the Lakers for a win as Shaq was fouled out to tie the series at two a piece.
The very next game, the Lakers lost the Pacers by an astounding 33 points. If Kobe didn't carry the Lakers after Shaq was fouled out in Game 4, the Lakers would've lost that game and may have lost the series as well. Again, without Kobe's contribution, the Lakers wouldn't have the Championship that season.
The Second Championship - 2000-2001
Playoff Averages
Shaq - 30.4 points, 15.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists
Kobe - 29.4 points,7.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists
As the regular season progressed it had become obvious that Kobe Bryant was a top 5 player in the League. He averaged 28.5 points per along with 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game. Shaq averaged 28.7 points in the same regular season. There's only a 1 point differential in points per game scored by Kobe and Shaq in the Playoffs.
Isn't it absurd to say that Shaq carried Kobe?
In the Playoffs, Kobe averaged 31 points per game heading into the Finals while Shaq averaged 29.3 points per game. Kobe scored more points, had better efficiency, was a better defender and the better playmaker than Shaq in the first 3 rounds. Lakers faced Philadelphia 76ers led by MVP Allen Iverson. While Kobe was guarding the MVP on the League and was matched up against Raja Bell, he put some great performances.
The Mamba lead the Lakers in Win Shares and Win Shares per 48 minutes in the Playoffs. Do we still need to go through the next slide?
The Third Championship - 2001-2002
Playoff Averages
Shaq - 30.4 points, 15.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists.
Kobe - 29.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists.
Shaq himself called Kobe the best player during the previous year's Playoffs while continuing to be the most dominant Big in the league. Kobe had won the All-Star MVP Award that year. Kobe and Shaq both finished in the top 5 of MVP voting that particular season? Absurd to say one of these guys carried the other because they were both amongst the 5 best players in the League.
In Game 7 of Western Conference Finals against the Sacramento Kings, Kobe had an amazing night as he had 10 Rebounds and 7 Assists to compliment his 30 points. While Shaq had 35 in that game, it would be absolutely foolish to disregard Kobe's performances that night.
As the numbers clearly suggest, Shaq needed Kobe just as much Kobe needed Shaq to win the 3 Championships. The "Shaq carried Kobe" narrative has now been busted!
