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In 2016, Shaquille O’Neal issued a challenge to late Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant to score 50 points before his farewell NBA game against the Utah Jazz.
While they were teammates on the Los Angeles Lakers, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant were said to have a hostile relationship. O’Neal went on to the Miami Heat while Bryant remained with the Lakers for his whole career. Kobe Bryant was tasked with scoring 50 points by Shaquille O’Neal before his last NBA game against the Utah Jazz in 2016.
Bryant was asked to make a pledge to O’Neal on the Inside the NBA show. Shaquille O’Neal urged Bryant to reach 50 points because the game would be followed by a “huge celebration.” The five-time NBA champion had 25 games with at least 50 points prior to his final contest, 15 of which took place in the Lakers’ arena.
Bryant’s final game got off to a poor start as he missed his first five shots and finished the first half with a 7-of-20 shooting percentage. In the following quarter, he made up the ground, scoring 37 points. He finished the game with 60 points after scoring 23 points in the fourth quarter. In addition to attempting a career-high 50 field goals, Kobe Bryant scored 60 points, becoming him the oldest player in NBA history to do it. Additionally, it was the most points scored by a player in the last NBA game. Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven other people perished in a helicopter crash in January.
The most powerful NBA duo in history, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal nearly had an unbeaten postseason run.
From 2000 to 2003, they shared three championships while playing for the Lakers together from 1996 to 2004. They could not be stopped. Shaq was at the height of his powers and dominated the center position like no one had ever seen.
Kobe was a rising star, but he appeared to have boundless potential. When he first started his career, he averaged well over 20 points each game, proving to be a real star while playing alongside Shaq.
Before his retirement, Kobe Bryant spent a lot of time playing in the NBA. He played with the Lakers for a total of 20 arduous and gruelling seasons.
Kobe amassed a considerable fortune while he was a professional athlete. His shrewd business moves after retirement and the money he saved allowed him to amass a vast net worth of $600 million.
When asked about his favourite title won with Shaq, Kobe was once asked. Unsurprisingly, he said the second win was in 2002. What was so unique about that year?
Well, during the playoffs, the Lakers had the greatest record in NBA history. They defeated every opponent they faced while going 15-1 (at the time, the first round consisted of only three games).
They did suffer one defeat in the Finals, though. That resulted from a powerful 47-point outburst by Allen Iverson, who memorably stepped over Tyronn Lue. Kobe regretted dropping that one game because he knew the Lakers should have swept the 76ers.
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