"It could've been a great dynasty if I could've continued to be there" – Glen Rice suggests Lakers made a big mistake trading him to the Knicks in 2001

Former NBA player Glen Rice Sr. made his mark in the league as a marksman. He is a three-time All-Star and NBA champion, having won his first and only ring with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000.

The 4th overall pick of the 1989 Draft was someone who could hit it from outside on a regular basis. That would make life easier for centers such as Shaquille O’Neal since it would open up the paint for him to operate. That was in full display in 2000, a reason why Rice, Shaq, and Kobe Bryant were the vital cogs in LA’s first title since 1988.

However, things turned sour between Glen Sr. and Lakers management. He was at odds with then-coach Phil Jackson and was allegedly upset when the Lakers picked up the $7 million option of his pact rather than allow him to test free agency. He would end up getting traded to the New York Knicks in exchange for Horace Grant, a player Phil had worked with before when both were with the Chicago Bulls.

Despite the fallout, Rice admitted that he would have loved to stay in Los Angeles. However, he claims that the purple and gold never offered him a contract after that 2000 title run.

“It could've been a great dynasty if I could've continued to be there,” the Michigan product stated via the New York Times .

Burning bridges

Despite the conflicts that arose between Rice and the Lakers, the 1997 NBA All-Star Game MVP was given the courtesy of management to attend the ring ceremony that was to be held before a scheduled game between LA and New York. Aware that most do not know the whole story about his departure, Glen knew that he would hear it from irate Lakers fans.

“If they're going to boo me, I'm not going to get on center stage and let them,” he stated. "I'm not going to give them that opportunity.”

At the time of Rice’s comments, the Lakers were struggling. Despite the talent on the team, he felt that his former squad needed to provide Shaq and Kobe more support if they were to make back-to-back title reigns.

The Lakers would eventually get together and make it to the NBA Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite the efforts of Allen Iverson and Dikembe Mutombo, LA turned back Philly in five games, winning its second-consecutive title and scorning the forecast of a disgruntled Rice Sr.

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Rice was a third star in Hollywood

It was an unfortunate parting of ways between the player and the organization after that 2000 title conquest. Critics considered G-Money to be the third-best player on the team after Shaq and Kobe. He averaged 16.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 107 regular season games for LA. Aside from that, he also shot 45.0% from the field and 37.6% from the three-point region.

Given his talent, Rice could have happily ended his career with the Lakers if rifts had not cropped up. After that 2000 run, his career took a dive, failing to hit it off with the Knicks, Houston Rockets, and Los Angeles Clippers. He would retire on February 18, 2004, ironically when the Clippers played the Lakers.

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