The story of the Lakers dynasty from 1996 through 2004, when Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal combined—and collided—to help bring the Lakers three straight championships and restore the franchise as a powerhouse
In the history of modern sport, there have never been two high-level teammates who loathed each other the way Shaquille O'Neal loathed Kobe Bryant, and Kobe Bryant loathed Shaquille O'Neal. From public sniping and sparring, to physical altercations and the repeated threats of trade, it was warfare. And yet, despite eight years of infighting and hostility, by turns mediated and encouraged by coach Phil Jackson, the Shaq-Kobe duo—a storied chapter in pro basketball—resulted in one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history. Together, the two led the Lakers to a three-peat of championships and returned glory and excitement to Los Angeles.
In the tradition of Jeff Pearlman's bestsellers Showtime, Boys Will Be Boys, and The Bad Guys Won, Three-Ring Circus, an essential piece of sports history, is a rollicking deep dive into one of sports' most fraught yet successful pairings.
How did two teammates who loathed each other build one of the NBA's greatest dynasties?
