2007-02-11 17:14:24 · 12 answers · asked by tinman24 1 in Sports ➔ Basketball
Shaq left to prove once and for all that KOBE is replaceable. SHAQ is NOT. Anyone who doesn't recognize that is a fool.
Period.
Once Shaq started sharing the limelight with Kobe, he realized that Kobe started thinking HE was the team. Kobe started thinking he was the man, and Shaq felt disrespected. Now who's laughing?
2007-02-11 19:00:25 · answer #1 · answered by drbuns 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Shaq left the lakers because he wasnt getting treated like the franchise player he once was...often during the last camp in Hawaii he needled Doc to get the extention done...this was prior to the season that saw Malone and Peyton come to the team...In the spring prior to that season while in the bay area watching the lakers play the warriors I was made privy to the info that the team was going to make a move on Malone for the mid level exemption, which for a certain clause left the lakers only paying half of that (the league would pitch the rest, imagine less than a mil) and that GP would move to half or less what he made the season prior 17M as I remember, if they got Malone that he would also sign...anyway, after the season of high hopes and a loaded team ended with Detroit winning the series handily...much like happened the last time these two teams met in the finals...there was a sense that a big change was going to be needed in order to compete in the future for the team and its management...Doc made it clear thru Mitch that Kobe was untouchable at that point, and he had always said he loved when the team ran, like the old days...Shaq took this as his cue, as at the time he knew many teams would also love his services but few had what would make a trade or compensation viable(read; dallas wouldnt part with Dirk)...the heat put together a package, away the big guy went to a team well suited to make a run, and the lakers started the task of rebuilding again...one must not forget that Doc has done this twice now since hes owned the team(8 titles in two runs with totally different squads, unprecedented in todays atmosphere of free agency and money chasing...Shaq was not going to get some huge contract that would strap the team from the rebuilding project that was necessary, he got another ring...and it would appear that everything is as all parties involved wanted...(btw wade did quite well leading the heat as they pushed the soon to be champion pistons (who beat down the lakers) to 6 games in the first round of the east without shaq or many of the players that have come or developed in the last two years)
2007-02-12 08:35:52 · answer #2 · answered by doingitright44 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Couple of reasons:
1. Kobe wanted to be "The Man". Shaq wanted to be "The Man". Too much ego there so one guy said I'm out.
2. Shaq wanted more money to finish his career in LA but the owner of the Lakers didn't want to invest too much in an aging and often hurt Shaq.
3. At that point Shaq knew that he didn't want to play for a lesser known or lesser experienced coach. Phil Jackson was on his way out for a little vacation so he had no want to stick around during that time.
2007-02-12 03:17:46 · answer #3 · answered by tg t 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Kobe was the main reason. Shaq also knew he couldn't lead a team in the west to the finals anymore. So he got his wish went to the east and rode Wade's coattail to the title.
2007-02-12 22:23:00 · answer #4 · answered by locojt1 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
because he cannot play with kobe anymore.. kobe is taking over the team and shaq cant take that he is now the 2nd option in the lakers..
2007-02-12 02:08:27 · answer #5 · answered by Don M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well there is many reasons.
>The most obvious is the Kobe factor. Shaq knew that the chemistry just wasnt there.
>Phil was leaving and the relationship between the two WAS strong.
>The Lakers owner Jerry Bauss[spelling error]...thought that they needed Kobe more...which is completely wrong...there's more Kobe's out there [Lebron, Wade....], but there is =only one Shaq.
>He wanted to win another ring....he wasnt gonna get that with Kobe.
2007-02-12 10:38:25 · answer #6 · answered by chass_32 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
cause Kobe's rape, giving the Lakers all the crap they had to handle all season, and Kobe wanting everything for himself in LA and not caring much bout winning anymore, caring more bout like whining instead, and Shaq wanted to win another NBA Title, not a scoring title, and he did right move changin over to bein teammates with Wade instead, who he made into an elite excellent player right away
2007-02-12 02:29:13 · answer #7 · answered by Bo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because he and kobe can coexist on the same team anymore. so management basically chose kobe over shaq, which makes sense since kobe is better and much younger.
2007-02-12 01:48:45 · answer #8 · answered by what? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he knew his time was slowly fading and he know kobe is not the best person the carry him for one last shot at glory... shaq is intelligent and he sensed that flash will be his man at the end of the line...
2007-02-12 01:39:36 · answer #9 · answered by pedro_jose 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's a "No-Brainer!" He was tired of Kobe's crap and he wanted to prove to him that he cannot win a Championship by himself. Furthermore, he proved that he (Shaq) can win one without him.
2007-02-12 08:33:45 · answer #10 · answered by Their Guardian Angel 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋