Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant’s partnership in Los Angeles, regardless of how it ended, is always in the conversation for best duo of all-time.

With three straight championships while being carried by both superstars as they were taking turns in obliterating opponents that stood in their way, they made the Lakers the gold standard in the early 2000s.

In O’Neal’s big day in Los Angeles where the 2000 MVP received his own statue outside of Staples Center, Bryant could not help but rave about his ex-teammate’s greatness while sending genuine appreciation to the Hall of Fame big man.

Bryant and O’Neal played together for eight years, and the former grew into his own beside the latter who was already one of the most dominant figures in the NBA in the first year of their partnership.

There wasn’t anyone who could give O’Neal a run for his money as the most dominant player to ever team up with Bryant. Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum were good, but they were not on the same level as The Diesel, while Dwight Howard didn’t have a chance to shine in Los Angeles during his lone season in Hollywood.

Throughout his Laker career, Shaquille O’Neal averaged 27.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game.