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Kobe was and maybe is still seen as the bane of superstars players in the NBA. Part of his disfavor has to do with the sexual assault case he had a couple years ago in Colorado, but the main source of his current dissatisfaction around the NBA and in the public’s general opinion is that he is the one that is blamed for the breakup of the L.A. Lakers. Kobe allegedly told management it was Shaq or him. At the time Kobe had all the leverage since he was a free agent, and that’s why it is widely believed he dismantled the team. Needless to say the Lakers chose Kobe. He and Shaq have always had a tumultuous relationship going back many years. Shaq was the poster child of the NBA from the middle of the 1990’s through 2003, he could do no wrong he was beloved by almost everyone. Shaq though did have to share a piece of the spotlight each passing year with an ever improving Kobe and you could always see the undertone of what was going on. Kobe wanted to stand on his own merit and talents and not be Shaq’s sidekick. Kobe reknowned for his work ethic and dedication to his craft, while Shaq has always been known to come into the season and play his way into shape. More times than not Shaq would create for himself lingering injuries because he didn’t keep himself in shape and cost the Lakers some wins during that span as well. Kobe chastised and questioned Shaq’s commitment to winning and coming in shape every year, this created an even larger rift with the two players. All of this came to a head the summer the Lakers were humiliated in the NBA Finals by the Detroit Pistons and blame for this debacle was thrown back and forth between the two mega stars.

Shaq was traded to the Miami Heat and vowed to get into shape and win another championship. He and Dewayne Wade the star player the Miami Heat did so the their second year together. Now here it is the beginning of their fourth season together Shaq’s work ethic and commitment are called into question again. This time by Pat Riley and more importantly Dewayne Wade. The same person Wade who Shaq likened to Micheal Corleone as the person who was going to be the succesor to the godfather, of course Shaq referring to himself. Shaq has yet to comment on what was said. That’s the strange thing almost everytime Kobe challenged him in the media Shaq responded vociferously, by letting everyone know the Lakers were his team and that he was the captain of the ship. Also using the media has always been Shaq”s method to voice his displeasure with diiferent things. In this current instance nothing, not even a one liner from Shaq which Shaq is famous for was uttered. That has led me to wonder why when Kobe did the same thing as D Wade did, Kobe was seen as stepping out of line and was scorned repeatedly. Kobe Blamed for the break up of a possible dynasty. I could only come up with a couple of things as why Wade isn’t getting piled on, one that D Wade is a media darling right now and the other D Wade is relatively new on the scene and people are always enamored by the new thing on the block. Now I wonder are the same people who tried to destroy Kobe’s integrity now going to come out and begin to rebuild what they were trying to dismantle. Or are they going to do what they do in most cases which is turn a deaf ear and blind eye to the matter.
It is now clear that the Lakers and Kobe were right Shaq’s is not intrinsically motivated to be the very best he can be. Kobe has proven time and time again that he will continually work on deficiences in his game and try to be the best he can possibly be. The Lakers as an organization while struggling now aren’t on the hook for the massive contract Shaq was looking which he found in Miami. The Heat are now stuck with an aging big man with diminishing skills and a insufficient work ethic to sustain his play from previous years. The whole while Kobe is still seen as a malcontent and never truly given credited for all the work he has put in on his game over the years to be the best. Compared to Shaq who is still the toast of the town down in Miami. I wonder how long it will last before Shaq goes into Kobe mode on Wade and his ego breaks up another team.