Toronto – After the 2015-16 All-Star game finished, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant and former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal were involved in a ‘scuffle’ after a series of pranks.
Witnesses said there was obvious heat between the two players the entire All-Star weekend. It finally boiled over after the game, when Shaq began playing ‘little jokes’ on Kobe.
Shaq put Icy Hot on Kobe’s towel, which caused a moderate burning sensation. Kobe shrugged off the prank but they continued to the 18-time All-Star player.
Then, Shaq hid Kobe’s dress shoes. Ater 20 minutes of looking, Kobe found them dangling from a ceiling waterpipe. After returning to his locker, Kobe noticed his wallet and watch were missing. This was the straw that broke the camel’s back and caused Kobe to get in Shaq’s face.
Shaq kept laughing, which made Kobe angrier. “I’m not a rookie, Shaquille,” said Kobe. “Don’t you have a TV show to go be annoying on?”
This comment caused Shaq to stop laughing. He stepped up into Kobe’s face, telling him, “That’s not cool, bro. You know I love that job and the audience loves me.”
Kobe replied, “Yeah, they know you’re annoying but are too afraid to tell you. I’m not.”
Shaq and Kobe then shoved each other at the same time and continued to bump chests. They were restrained by fellow players and cooler heads prevailed in the end.
As tempers cooled, the media got wind of the locker room altercation and began asking questions.
Kobe told reporters, “Hey, it was my last chance to go at it with Shaq, so that’s what I did. This is truly a season for lasts.”
Shaq told reporters in a separate interview before his post-game show, “It is a season for Kobe’s last. Last place, that is.”
The Past Returns
The pair won three Championships During their time in Los Angeles, but tension rose, endeding in Shaq going to the Miami Heat, where he won a Championship with Dwyane Wade. Kobe was able to win two more Championships in Los Angeles, but lost one final to the Boston Celtics, without Shaq.
As Kobe Bryant continues his farewell tour, he can check off one more item from his list.
