A common narrative that I’ve seen about the early 2000s Lakers is that they would have still 3-peated if Shaq was paired with any all star guard during that time. That got me think whether Shaq could win with AI, Kidd, T Mac, Vince, Ray Allen or even Baron Davis. Imo I think he would have atleast went back to back with any of these players considering Kobe didn’t add much value in 2000.
The point guards its harder to assess because the roster construction has to change. For instance AI can’t defend like Kobe from a sheer tools standpoint. So they’d have to switch out D Fish for a different type of shooting guard.
I could see the SGs slotting in to fill the Kobe void considering the tools they all bring to the table. Its turn into a nature vs nurture debate similar to Tim Duncan vs Kevin Garnett. Kobe had by far the best career but how much did growing under Shaq and Phil bring that about?
Yeah.
League was looking to replace MJ as a mascot. Shaq sold and he was carrying anyone along with him…Kobe got lucky.
Tracy McGrady, Vince, Carter, and Ray Allen all could have taken Kobe’s spot and not miss a beat. The Kobe then is not the Kobe of his last 2 rings
No doubt. Shaq could have won with 4 high school kids at that time. He was so dominant.