The Lakerhead

Shaq and Kobe Write Final Chapter in Relationship

Never in my wildest dreams did I think the Shaq-Kobe saga would end like this.  I imagined a classic sports segment where the voice of a rushing narrator would quickly tell us these two went on to win a championship or two each (hating each other forever), and that would be the end of that.

But here was Shaq and Kobe, at the 2009 All-Star game, sharing the All-Star MVP trophy between them, like they were Stockton and Malone.  What just happened?

Whoever said sports can’t teach you much about relationships was lying. Here was arguably the greatest 1-2 punch in the history of basketball, making amends with their giant egos and damaged past.  Here was forgiveness.  Here was grace.  And mostly, here was some great basketball played.

Shaq and Kobe proved, surely for the last time, that they are impossible to guard on the pick-and-roll together.   Kobe drove in, sucking in defenders and hitting Shaq for the dunk. The defense stays on Kobe this time, so Shaq works it by himself in deep post position.  The East clogs the middle, and Kobe knocks down the outside shot.  How in the heck do you guard these two?  You don’t.

Perhaps the Los Angeles Lakers missed out on a couple more championships because their dynamic duo couldn’t stay together. But after the scene where Kobe and Shaq share the MVP trophy together, perhaps L.A. learned more, and became better people through the reconciliation of the most unlikely pair of characters.  And surely that was worth another banner or two (OK, it wasn’t.  But I’m trying to make myself feel better, OK?).

Funnest Part of All-Star Game: Shaq dancing.  Nothing else comes even close to bringing the funny than the video below.  And we here at Lakerhead place a disproportionate amount of value in funny.  And so should you!