One Plus One

Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant could not be more different when it comes to style, both on and off the court. Shaq is a playful giant with a side hustle as a rapper. Kobe is a kid from Philly with once-in-a-lifetime talent—and an ego to match. But Shaq and Kobe's fates have been intertwined since both players joined the Lakers amid a lot of fanfare. Clashes between two talented players on a sports team isn't new, but the Shaq-Kobe drama managed to stand out. And it also led to multiple basketball championships. Our six-episode series on the feud and partnership between Shaq and Kobe begins in the mid-1990s, when the Lakers are looking for players with the skill and showmanship to fill a giant Magic Johnson-sized hole in this once-glorious franchise. Lakers' management knows that Shaq and Kobe have the potential to lead their team to victory — but which one will be the real leader? And how will they can get these two superstars to work together to win?

In their early years, Kobe and Shaq each endure snubs from their heroes that give them a ferocious desire to prove themselves on the court. But that’s pretty much where their similarities end. Kobe is the adored only son of an NBA player. Shaq is raised by his stepfather, a former Marine sergeant who rides him hard and is never pleased. Shaq comes to the NBA wanting to dominate and be loved. Kobe doesn’t worry about being loved. He’s got the kind of charm and charisma that leaves people hoping he’ll love them. Shaq is one of the guys. And Kobe, well...he’s kind of a mama’s boy. But they do share one thing. Both men want to be the Lakers’ leader and high scorer—which is gearing up to be a massive challenge for the coach tasked with containing their feud.

Shaq and Kobe have been playing together for three seasons now, but they still haven’t managed to win a championship for the Lakers. The issue is clear to everyone: these NBA superstars have a super-sized beef, and it’s having a negative effect on the whole team. At this rate, it’ll take a miracle to settle their feud before the start of next season. Luckily, a miracle worker has just come out of retirement. The Lakers hire 53-year old Phil Jackson, the legendary coach who led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships, to do the impossible: build a championship team out of these battling ballers.

Shaq and Kobe have finally led the Lakers to their first NBA Championship since 1988. Coach Phil Jackson warns the team: once you win your first championship, it gets even harder to muster the fire needed to win the second. That may be true, but not for Kobe. He’s never been hungrier — and he’s determined to make himself the team’s dominant player. Before long he’s supplanted Shaq as the team’s top scorer, but his showboating is pissing off his teammates. Shaq is filled with rage so fierce he can’t perform on the court. As Jackson puts it, the Lakers lack “wellness,” and it makes them easy pickings for teams eager to take down the champions. To salvage the season, the Lakers have to rein in Kobe and help Shaq find his groove again. And a surprise injury could help turn things around…

Kobe’s life seems perfect. At 24 years old, he’s already a three-time NBA champion, as well as a husband and father. Then, one night in Colorado, he opens the door to his hotel room and lets a young woman in. The next day she files charges of sexual assault. Shaq has a very different sort of problem. He’s 30 years old, no longer the dominant player he once was, and his contract is set to expire. When the 2003-2004 season begins, neither of them are focused on the game. Shaq is on edge because he doesn’t have a new contract. Kobe’s on edge because he’s facing a potential life sentence. Once again, they take it out on each other, and the fragile balance of opposites that brought home three Lakers championships is under threat. Something’s gotta give.

It’s official: The Shaq-Kobe Lakeshow has finally come to an end. Shaq’s been traded to the Miami Heat, one of the weakest teams in the league. For the veteran center, the trade feels like a personal slight—one he’ll make them regret. He promises to “bring a championship to Miami.” And true to his word, the very next season, Shaq leads the Heat to a NBA championship. Now he has one more ring than Kobe. But Kobe isn’t daunted. Shaq’s ring is Kobe’s rocket fuel. Three years later, Kobe leads the Lakers to yet another championship. But drawing even with Shaq isn’t enough for Kobe. He won’t be satisfied until he’s outdone the big man. Will their feud never end?

The solo genius is a myth. Rico talks to Joshua Wolf Shenk about why our society fails to recognize the power of collaborations, the different forms partnerships can take, and how rivalry can spark creativity.To learn more about creative partnerships, we recommend Powers of Two: How Relationships Drive Creativity by Joshua Wolf Shenk.