Skip navigation
Site powered by
Latest news:
msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines: Violence widens ahead of Greek austerity vote

Shaq: Feud with Kobe was 'designed' by Phil

'I swear to God. On the court, we never had a problem,' Suns center says

Image: Kobe, ShaqLakers v TimberwolvesLAKERS KOBE BRYANT AND SHAQUILLE ONEAL TAKE A BREATHER DURING GAME AGAINST BULLSReuters
Kobe Bryant (front) and Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers to three straight NBA titles from 1999-2002.

Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal says his feud with former Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant was fueled by Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson, the Sacramento Bee reported Monday.

"I swear to God. On the court, we never had a problem," O'Neal said. " . . . It's just that I'd say stuff, he'd say stuff. I think it was all designed by Phil [Jackson].

"Because if you think about it, Phil never called us into the office and said, 'Both of you all, shut up.' Never did that in four years. He knew that when I read something, I was going to get upset. And he knew Kobe was going to always come out and play hard. So I think it was all done by design."

O'Neal and Bryant will square off again on Thursday, when the Suns battle the Lakers.

O'Neal added, "I think it was all done by design. Really. He never called us in a meeting and said, 'Shut up.' And basically, it was never a face-to-face... thing. It was always, he'd say something to you, I'd say something to another guy, I'd say something to you. That's all it was.

"Now that I look back on it, that (stuff) was kind of fun. It really was. It was kind of fun. 'What did he say, what did he say?' I tell people if we would have had a reality show, we'd have had the No. 1 reality show in the world. It was fun. It was actually fun. (Brian) Shaw would be, 'Oh, man, why did you say that?' And then Karl (Malone) would be like, 'Yo, that was (messed) up what you said.' Then we'd try to outdo each other in the game.

"But while we were trying to outdo each other, the two best players in the game, we're outdoing everyone by far. (Heck), if he was open in the lane, I wasn't going to say, '(The heck with) you, Kobe.' I would still drop it off. But it was actually fun. And not only was it fun, we'll always be remembered as the best Laker one-two punch. I'm going on record saying we're the best Laker guard-center punch. You heard it from me. Ever."

O'Neal and Bryant led the Lakers to three straight titles from 1999-2002.

© 2012 NBC Sports.com

advertisement
Special feature
Los Angeles Lakers v New York Knicks
Main attraction
A look at the highs and lows of Lakers guard Kobe Bryant's career.

NBCSports.com

  ProBasketballTalk tweets

  1. Loading the latest posts…

Source: Twitter. For more, follow @basketballtalk.

Video: NBA from NBC Sports
Lin on on 'Linsanity'
Knicks guard Jeremy Lin discusses the hype surrounding his recent rise in New York.

Slideshow
Washington Wizards v Charlotte Bobcats
  Get your cheer on
Check out some of the dancers from the NBA.

more photos

  Ask the NBA expert: Ira Winderman

Do you have a burning NBA question? Submit it now, and then check back for our reader mailbag.

Special feature
Image: LeBron James
Who will be MVP?
Interactive: Rank each player on a scale of 0 to 10 (10 = best player, 0 = barely worthy of consideration).

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Image: Blake Griffin
  NBA All-Star starters
A look at the starting lineups for the East and West teams.

more photos

Slideshow
Image: Snee, 8, son of New York Giants player Chris Snee and head coach Coughlin's grandson plays in the confetti after the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game in Indianapolis
  The Week in Sports Pictures
The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more.

more photos