Kobe Bryant & Shaquille O’Neal Erupt for 66 Pts in Fiery 2003-04 Bay Area Battle | Full Highlights

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Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal
Hidden Gem Full Highlights (Rare)
LA Lakers vs GS Warriors
February 18, 2004
The Arena in Oakland (Oracle)

Kobe - 35 pts, 6r, 8a, 2s / 11-16 fg, 0-1 3pt, 13-15 ft
Shaq - 31 pts, 16r, 7a, 5b / 15-23 fg, 1-9 ft

After starting the 2003-04 season with 20 wins and only 5 losses through their initial 25 games, the Lakers found themselves at 31-19 entering mid-February’s All Star Weekend in LA. As injuries plagued the team, so did tension between the franchise’s superstar egos. In his journal-like, season chronicling book ‘The Last Season’ (2004), Phil Jackson details the conflict within the team amidst his final months as head coach of the Shaq-Kobe Lakers. Just 7 days prior to February 18th’s matchup in Oakland, it was announced that negotiations over Phil’s contract extension had been put on indefinite hold:

“I was perplexed. Why today, on the eve of our last game before the five-day All-Star break, did the Lakers feel compelled to release this information?” ... “I immediately called the therapist. Could there be a connection, he wondered, between my recent tirade about Kobe in Mitch’s office and the sudden halt in talks? Absolutely.” (103)

The tirade referred to took place in late January, one of many run-ins between Kobe and Phil over the season’s course:

“Earlier this week at El Segundo there was an incident at practice. On the way to the court, I asked Kobe, still nursing a sore shoulder, if he was up to doing a little running. Sure, he responded, as soon as he finished his treatment. Almost an hour went by, and there was no Kobe sighting. Finally, with an ice pack on his shoulder, he took a seat on the sideline. It began to dawn on me that contrary to what he had told me, Kobe had no intention of running. After practice I followed Kobe to the training room, asking him why he lied to me. He was being sarcastic, he said. Wrong answer. I told him that he needed to treat me with respect, not sarcasm” ... “Now I was the one who was angry. I went upstairs to see Mitch in his office. Wasting no time, I went off on a tirade about the need to deal Kobe before the trading deadline in mid-February. “I won’t coach this team next year if he is still here,” I said emphatically. “He won’t listen to anyone. I’ve had it with this kid.’” (91-92)

On February 13th, two days after the organization’s contract announcement, Kobe commented on the situation publicly, angering Shaq in the process:

“... While I was driving to the office, my assistant called. Shaq was looking for me, she said. When I called him, he asked if I wanted him to respond publicly to ‘Kobe’s comment.’ Kobe’s comment? As usual I hadn’t read the papers. Shaq filled me in. Asked if the sudden uncertainty of my coaching status might affect his own plans with the Lakers, Kobe responded: “I don’t care.” Shaq was angry. “I can’t believe this guy,” he said. “We’ve gone to three championships in four years, something we never did before, and he’s not willing to stand up for you.” I appreciated Shaq’s gesture” ... “Nonetheless, I told him I did not need anyone to defend me. The last thing this team needed, after the injuries and losses we could never have anticipated, was another feud.” (108)

At practice on February 16th, less than 24 hours removed from Sunday’s ASG, Phil decided to try and settle things (for the time being) with Kobe:

“As for Kobe’s comment, I wasn’t offended. I’m sure he’s upset during this most turbulent period, instead of providing him with unconditional support, I have once again joined the ranks of authority figures daring to question his conduct.” ... “Only by holding him to a higher standard, on and off the court, is there a chance he might be compliant. Finally after practice today, I asked Kobe to meet me in my office.” ... “I shut the door. The time for flexibility was over. “I feel like you’ve been very vitriolic,” I told him. “If you’re not capable of taking coaching remarks, then we’re not going to have a ‘give and take’ anymore and this is simply not going to work. It will break down the team’” ... “I closed with one final point. “As of last weekend, the Lakers are not in contract talks with me anymore, which is just fine with me. That makes it for this year only. It liberates me to coach the team without worrying about whether you’re coming back or another player is coming back. You and I can work this out right?” He nodded.” (109)

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The Lakers proceeded to go 25-7 following All-Star’s 5 day break. Kobe’s 35 points in Oakland marked the 2nd amidst the squad’s first 7 games back, a stretch that saw him average 33p, 8r and 8a on 55-39-86 (%). Bryant and O’Neal’s combined total of 66 points is the 3rd most they combined for in a single game that season.

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