One Plus One

Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant could not be more different when it comes to style, both on and off the court. Shaq is a playful giant with a side hustle as a rapper. Kobe is a kid from Philly with once-in-a-lifetime talent—and an ego to match.

But Shaq and Kobe's fates have been intertwined since both players joined the Lakers amid a lot of fanfare. Clashes between two talented players on a sports team isn't new, but the ...

In their early years, Kobe and Shaq each endure snubs from their heroes that give them a ferocious desire to prove themselves on the court.

But that’s pretty much where their similarities end. Kobe is the adored only son of an NBA player. Shaq is raised by his stepfather, a former Marine sergeant who rides him hard and is never pleased.

Shaq comes to the NBA wanting to dominate and be loved. Kobe doesn’t worry about being lo...

Shaq and Kobe have been playing together for three seasons now, but they still haven’t managed to win a championship for the Lakers. The issue is clear to everyone: these NBA superstars have a super-sized beef, and it’s having a negative effect on the whole team. At this rate, it’ll take a miracle to settle their feud before the start of next season. Luckily, a miracle worker has just come out of retirement.

The Lakers hire...

Shaq and Kobe have finally led the Lakers to their first NBA Championship since 1988. Coach Phil Jackson warns the team: once you win your first championship, it gets even harder to muster the fire needed to win the second.

That may be true, but not for Kobe. He’s never been hungrier — and he’s determined to make himself the team’s dominant player. Before long he’s supplanted Shaq as the team’s top scorer, but his showboati...

Kobe’s life seems perfect. At 24 years old, he’s already a three-time NBA champion, as well as a husband and father. Then, one night in Colorado, he opens the door to his hotel room and lets a young woman in. The next day she files charges of sexual assault.

Shaq has a very different sort of problem. He’s 30 years old, no longer the dominant player he once was, and his contract is set to expire.

When the 2003-2004 season beg...

It’s official: The Shaq-Kobe Lakeshow has finally come to an end. Shaq’s been traded to the Miami Heat, one of the weakest teams in the league. For the veteran center, the trade feels like a personal slight—one he’ll make them regret. He promises to “bring a championship to Miami.” And true to his word, the very next season, Shaq leads the Heat to a NBA championship. Now he has one more ring than Kobe.

But Kobe isn’t daunte...

The solo genius is a myth. Rico talks to Joshua Wolf Shenk about why our society fails to recognize the power of collaborations, the different forms partnerships can take, and how rivalry can spark creativity.

To learn more about creative partnerships, we recommend Powers of Two: How Relationships Drive Creativity by Joshua Wolf Shenk.

Support us by supporting our sponsors!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy ...