Before a whole new dynasty started for the Los Angeles Lakers, two players arrived on the scene. One became a four-time champion Shaquille O’Neal; the other was Kobe Bryant.
Los Angeles Lakers 2000-2002
Before a whole new dynasty started for the Los Angeles Lakers, two players arrived on the scene. One became a four-time champion Shaquille O’Neal; the other was Kobe Bryant.
Two Iconic Lakers Drafted
Bryant was originally drafted in the 1996 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets but then got switched over to Los Angeles. Shaq was drafted way back in the 1992 NBA draft for the Orlando Magic. They both crossed paths in ’96, and what came after was the start of something special.
Lakers 2000 Championship
One iconic moment was when Kobe did an alley oop to Shaq and it became one of the most memorable moments for this team. This was against the Portland Trailblazers, and Scottie Pippen was one of the guards who played for this team.
The Lakers had defeated the Indiana Pacers in six games to win their 12 Championship in franchise history.
Lakers 2001 Championship
The Lakers had beaten Allen Iverson 76ers in six games to win their 13th championship.
The team beat Philly 4-1, two games at Staples Center and three at the First Union Center. Los Angeles lost game 1 after Iverson scored 48 points to where he stepped over Tyronn Lue, but the team got back on their feet in game two. According to Wikipedia, “Bryant and O’Neal played hero in game 2 where Bryant scored 31 points, and O’Neal stacked 20 rebounds and 9 assists” (Wikipedia 2024).
Lakers 2002 Championship
The Lakers swept the New Jersey Nets in four games to three-peat. Beforehand, there was skepticism about how the previous series the Lakers played in was handled in the 2002 Western Conference Finals. One power forward, named Robert Horry sealed the deal in game 6 where the Lakers came back down 24 points.
One game 6 against the Sacramento Kings had raised eyebrows on officiating, but the Lakers still stood victorious in the series.
What Happened After The Three-Peat?
After a controversial case made against Bryant, the team stumbled a bit. They missed the finals in 2003 where the San Antonio Spurs went on to win it. They made the finals the year after but lost to the Detroit Pistons 4-1. This led to Kobe and Shaq going their own paths, but still found greatness
Shaq was sent to the Miami Heat where he won his 4th and last NBA Title with Dwyane Wade as one of his teammates 4-2 against the Dallas Mavericks. Bryant went on to soar in his career and ultimately win back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010 The Black Mamba had an iconic 81 point game against the Toronto Raptors in between in early 2006. Shaq finished his career with the Boston Celtics. Bryant finished his career with a 60-point game in April 2016 against the Utah Jazz.
About The Author
Samuel has always loved sports. He has written for the Wingate Triangle at Wingate University. Rodriguez got a BS in Communications with a Sports Media Emphasis. He is also pursuing a Cybersecurity Operations Certificate at Fayetteville Technical Community College.
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