"I don't want to be a part of this" - Shaquille O'Neal told the LA Times he was going to follow Phil Jackson out of Los Angeles

Los Angeles Lakers followers are well aware of how the NBA franchise broke down in 2004, immediately after the NBA Finals, in which they were upset by the Detroit Pistons, 4-1, despite having a formidable roster.

Failing for the second season in a row, the Lakers needed to recalibrate and make changes. Phil Jackson left the team, Shaquille O'Neal demanded a trade, and Kobe Bryant was set to hit free agency.

End of an era

Jackson, O'Neal, and Bryant were responsible for delivering three straight titles to the Lakers (2000 to 2002). Unfortunately, internal issues got in the way. Although Phil and Shaq got along, it was their souring relationship with Kobe that stood out.

Hence, something had to give. With the Zen Master out, "The Diesel" wanted to leave as well. The murmurs at the time were to rebuild around Bryant. O'Neal seemed aware of it, demanding he be traded.

"The direction they're going in, if they're going to continue to go in the same direction, I don't want to be a part of this," O'Neal said to the Los Angeles Times via UPI .

Related: "Penny was Kobe before Kobe" - Shaquille O'Neal on what set Penny Hardaway from Kobe Bryant

Family feud

The feud between Shaq and Kobe was well-known. Hence, it wasn't surprising that the LSU product wanted out. He would be traded to the Miami Heat for Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, and a future first-round draft pick.

Jackson, arguably the most successful NBA coach of all time, just had enough of Kobe and even revealed he couldn't coach the Black Mamba in his book Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success .

"I can't coach Kobe," Jackson stated. "It was a futile appeal. Kobe was Dr. Buss's wunderkind, and he was unlikely to trade him."

Aside from O'Neal and Jackson, Bryant also had issues with other players. Among them was Karl Malone, someone he accused of making a pass at his wife . "The Mailman" tried to clear the matter, apologizing for allegedly making Vanessa Bryant uncomfortable with his comments.

Regardless, that incident was another issue that affected the Lakers. Malone would decide against returning to the Lakers after Kobe's comments.

Soon after, it was clear that the Lakers were planning to rebuild around Bryant. Oddly, Jackson returned to LA in 2005 and somehow found a way to work with Kobe once again.

As for Shaq, he would win his fourth and last NBA ring with the Miami Heat in 2006. At that point, the "Big Aristotle's" career was declining. Ironically, it was Shaq's health that Kobe was critical of. While most felt LA could have won more titles if they kept the two stars, Bryant felt that Shaq's injuries would prevent that.

Related: "My grandma would be mad at me if I let him get away with it." – Charles Barkley explains why he didn't back down from Shaquille O'Neal in the 1999