Magic Johnson believes that the Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal-led Los Angeles Lakers of the early 2000s would beat the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls of the 90s in a seven-game series.
After O'Neal came out this week with the declaration, Johnson concurred. On the ‘Lunchtime with Roggin and Rodney podcast by LA AM570 radio, the Lakers icon and NBA Hall of Famer gave his honest opinion.
“Well I think that Shaq would've been the difference because we all know that Kobe and Michael would've cancelled each other out” Magic Johnson said of the 2000s Lakers. “So if J0rdan got 40, Kobe was going to get 40. Because one thing about Kobe, he was not going to give into anybody. I don't care who it was. And, he patterned his game after Michael.”
The best season of the Kobe and Shaq duo was probably the 1999-2000 season when the Lakers won 67 games and beat the Indiana Pacers in the finals. That season, Bryant and O'Neal combined for an incredible 52.2 points, 16.9 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game.
Together, Kobe and Shaq brought three straight championships from 2000 to 2002.
“We have to remember that the Bulls didn't have no great centers,” Johnson added. “So, what Shaq would've did to all those guys, oh my goodness it wouldn't have been fair.
As for Jordan's Bulls, MJ brought the franchise six titles in a span of eight seasons. During the 1995-96 season, Chicago won a then-record 72 games behind the trio of Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman.
Either way, the said Lakers and Bulls teams are both considered up there when you look at the greatest teams ever assembled, and you could certainly make arguments for both sides.
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