For retired NBA player Metta Sandiford-Artest, there is no doubt who are the best duo in the NBA. Recently, the former Los Angeles Lakers forward tweeted a photo of Hall of Famers Shaquille O'Neal and the late Kobe Bryant, calling them the best one-two punch in league history.
Best @NBA duo ever. Hands down. Go @Lakers pic.twitter.com/nDXYAEWFka
— Metta (@MettaWorld37) May 22, 2020
Metta pitched in his take following continuous debates among fans and pundits concerning the greatest players of all time. The lull in sports activities, as well as the recently concluded “The Last Dance” docu-series, has somehow divided fans in terms of discerning the true GOATS of the game.
Obviously, Metta does have a bit of a bias considering he was a former Lakers player himself and was teammates with Bryant from 2009-13. He was a vital part of the Purple and Gold's championship run in 2010.
Still, it's hard to deny the fact that the Shaq and Kobe duo was indeed something special in their heyday in the early 2000's. The seemingly unstoppable pair was a real in-and-out threat that laid waste to the competition on both sides of the ball.
That partnership resulted in one of the most dominant dynasties of all time punctuated by a three-peat from 2000-02.
Most still argue that group could have and should have won more had had they not internally self-destructed in 2004 following a bitter upset to the Detroit Pistons in the Finals. The powerhouse Lakers squad broke up the following year after Shaq was traded to the Miami Heat.
The case can also be made that the Michael Jordan-Scottie Pippen duo is the best ever, considering they won six NBA titles together on two separate three-peats.
If only Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant settled their differences while they were still teammates on the Lakers, maybe we won't even be having this conversation at all.
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