Bill Simmons always talks about the championships left on the table because of Shaq and Kobe not being able to make it work. As Kobe’s career comes to a close, like Kobe said in the video, if he would have stayed playing with Shaq he wouldn’t have gotten the recognition he does now as one of the greatest of all time. Yes, he won with Pau Gasol, but you have to remember how different those two were. Shaq casts a shadow, Pau does not.
Kobe gave a very interesting answer when asked if there was more he could’ve done to save relationship with Shaq: pic.twitter.com/ISdzJSb2ic
— Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) February 22, 2016
To reach his full potential, Kobe needed to be faced with the ultimate challenge. I’m a big believer in rising to the occasion- the same boiling water that softens the carrot hardens the egg.
If Kobe wouldn’t have had that moment where he had to reach down and see exactly how deep that well of determination was, we probably wouldn’t appreciate what makes Kobe, Kobe. To me, Kobe defines will, determination, and what it means to put everything you have into something.
I’m with Kobe, things worked out how they were supposed to. It’s not personal, it’s just business.