Kobe Bryant Discusses Getting into Fist Fight with Shaquille O'Neal
Appearing on Thursday night's episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant talked about the time he got into a fist fight with Shaquille O'Neal during scrimmage.
Kobe said Shaq threw the first punch and he threw one back before others involved in the scrimmage broke it up:
Bryant said he fought back to show Shaq he wouldn't back down and added that he scored every point for his team after the fight en route to winning the scrimmage.
Kobe first brought up the fight during a discussion with Shaq on TNT in February:
Bryant said the scrimmage took place during a lockout (1998-99 season) with he and O'Neal on opposite teams.
Kobe added that Shaq said, "Take that, little b---h" in reference to him, which was one of the catalysts of the altercation.
Bryant and O'Neal became teammates in 1996-97 after the Lakers signed Shaq in free agency and acquired Kobe in a draft-night trade with the Charlotte Hornets.
They played alongside each other for eight seasons until Shaq was traded to the Miami Heat.
During their time together, Kobe and Shaq led the Lakers to three championships, and they were among the most successful duos in NBA history.
O'Neal is already a Hall of Famer, and Bryant is a lock to join him as a first-ballot choice in 2019.
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