Trying to achieve individual and team glory simultaneously can be tricky. This seemed more complicated for Kobe Bryant because of his desire to become one of the greatest basketball players ever. However, he soon recognized that winning NBA titles came with the recognition and validation he sought. And for that, he knew he needed Shaquille O'Neal.
In Slam No. 66, released in February 2003, the "Black Mamba" spoke about how he could have easily boosted his stats had he transferred to another squad. However, he chose to win rings with the Los Angeles Lakers , necessitating him to learn how to work with Shaq.
Nobody can win an NBA title by themselves
As exceptional of a player Kobe was in his prime, he recognized that he couldn't win an NBA championship without a solid cast of players by his side. Bryant conceded that racking up stats was a breeze, but winning a title demanded more than individual talent.
"I read that somebody said, 'Kobe would never do it on his own.' Well, do what? What are you talking about? Because if you're talking about scoring 30, 35 points, I could do that for you. Now, if you're talking about winning rings, on my own? I can't do that for you. Who can? Nobody has," Bean said .
Iconic players like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson may receive plenty of credit for their impressive individual accolades, but they both had strong supporting casts to help them win championships. Even LeBron James, who is often compared to Kobe, needed the help of fellow All-Stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to secure his first two NBA titles.
"You know, Shaquille hasn't done it on his own. Jordan. You know, if you go back in history, you can run this down for days. So, if you're talking about individual success, I can give that to you on another team. But if you're talking about rings, nah, I won't even touch that. I need the big fella," KB24 asserted.
Related: "That's not a goal I want to achieve. That's not something I think I'll be good at" - Allen Iverson on why he would never want to be a coach
Rings=individual glory
The NBA's rich history shows many players who have compiled lofty stats but never won much in the league because they were on bad teams. At one point in Kobe's career, he had a choice: keep putting up big numbers or sacrifice some of his individual achievements for the chance to compete for championships. Bryant, known for his fierce competitiveness and determination, chose the latter.
"When I had an opportunity to leave, I said, Nah, I'm not gonna do that. I want to win. And it's amazing how, once I gave up the individual stuff, and started really giving up myself to the team, gettin' the ball to Shaq, individual stuff started comin' to me. And it was a blessing," the legendary guard said.
"Playing with a player who commands a double-team like Shaquille does, what that gives me is jewelry. Playing with Shaq gets me rings," he added.
Although Kobe and Shaq's partnership ended with three titles, it concluded on a bitter note, as the latter was traded to the Miami Heat in 2004. The "Diesel" won his fourth championship in 2006, while Kobe and the Lakers struggled for a few seasons. "Mamba," though, broke through and won two more titles in 2009 and 2010, this time with Pau Gasol by his side.
Related: "It starts chipping away" — Kobe Bryant on why he and Shaquille O'Neal had to part ways even if they patched things up
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