The Shaq and Kobe feud is now back. All the talk has been about how Kobe can't win without Shaq. O'Neal won without Kobe in 2006, but Kobe has yet to win a championship. However, Shaq didn't REALLY win anything without Kobe. Kobe has never had a big man in the middle since Shaq left.
He's never had any help, except this year. Shaq, on the other hand, had the second reincarnation of Kobe - Dwayne Wade. Wade was one of the best players in the league during their championship run at the same position Bryant played with the Lakers. How can anyone say, "Shaq won without Kobe?"
He didn't. Shaq had even better production at the guard position in Miami than he did with Kobe. Over the three seasons that Kobe and Shaq won NBA titles, Kobe averaged 25.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg and 5.1 apg during the regular seasons. In Wade's NBA title season with Shaq, Wade averaged 27.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 5.7 apg.
Wade had better production in all three major categories. However, what about during the playoffs, you ask? During the three runs for the Lakers, Kobe averaged 25.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg and 5 apg. Wade - 28.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg and 5.7 apg. Again, Wade better in all three major categories.
Dwayne Wade gave Shaq even a better outside presence in Miami than Kobe did in LA. Never did Shaq win anything by himself. Kobe, however, has not had even close to the same inside production since Shaq left. In addition, the one-year he did (this year), he went to the NBA finals. I'm sick of hearing that Kobe can't win without Shaq, but Shaq can win without Kobe. Shaq DID win in Miami with Kobe - Dwayne Wade.
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