Kobe vs. Shaq: Kobe Is the Greater Laker, but It's About to Be Official

Sometime during tonight's game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant will ascend into the NBA's list of top-five all-time scorers, and ironically the player he will pass is Shaquille O'Neal.

Kobe needs less than 30 points to eclipse O'Neal, and even if he doesn't get it against the defensive-minded 76ers, then it's only a matter of time before O'Neal slips further into Bryant's rear-view mirror.

The event is actually a little melodramatic since Shaq's attitude towards Kobe has definitely softened since he retired from the hardwood and joined the ranks of analysts.

In fact, some would even argue that Shaq has become Bryant's biggest fan.

The version of O'Neal who never missed an opportunity to throw a few negative barbs in Kobe's direction has been replaced by a thoughtful analyst who suddenly seems to understand and appreciate all that Kobe has done for the game?

Shaq's new-found attitude does seem sincere, but I bet that he may be able to summon a little vitriol after Kobe eventually surpasses the last meaningful historical measure separating the two players.

Kobe has won more NBA championships than Shaq, scored more points as a Laker and will very shortly have scored more points as a player.

Of course Shaq could still cling to the fact that he has won one more Finals MVP than Kobe, and he captured them all with Kobe as a teammate, but with every game Kobe plays, that argument becomes a little more shallow.

During the height of their feud, Shaq wanted to prove that Kobe and the Lakers were a lost franchise without him, and once he did leave, the Lakers were.

But Kobe was able to lift the franchise up from the Shaq debacle, and with a little help from Pau Gasol, he was able to lead the Lakers to almost the same level of success as O'Neal's time as a Laker.

The key word here is lead, because the most telling difference between Kobe and Shaq besides their physical attributes is their leadership ability.

Although Shaq did lead the Lakers to three consecutive championships, not many people would really consider him to be a leader.

Kobe has accepted the same praise that O'Neal did for the Lakers success, but he has also shouldered the blame for their failure.

Instead of burning bridges at every stop Kobe has built his legacy as a player with one team, and in the process he will eventually be recognized as the greatest player in the history of the Lakers franchise.

Lakers fans will never forget what O'Neal did for the team, but Kobe's greatest legacy may be that those same fans will remember him more when it comes to their failed partnership.

The Shaq and Kobe feud will finally end for good sometime in the next few days, and surprisingly Shaq's legacy as a Laker will be reduced to a footnote in Bryant's brilliant career.