Former Los Angeles Lakers teammates Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant won three consecutive NBA championships (2000, 2001, 2002), and made an additional NBA Finals appearance in 2004 together before personal differences and arguments over their individual roles on the team was followed by a trade that sent Shaq to the Miami Heat while Bryant was re-signed as a free agent by the Lakers.

Now, O'Neal – speaking on ‘The Big Podcast with Shaq' clarifies the relationship that the two Lakers legends had at the teammate:

Says O'Neal, “The respect has to always be there. We don't see eye-to-eye. But it ain't a feud. It just looks like a feud… When I'm getting doubled, he's the first dude I'm looking for.”

During the 1998-99 lockout shortened season, the Lakers blamed their problems on what they felt was Bryant's selfish play. At one point, O'Neal pointed at Bryant and told reporters in the locker room, “There's the problem.”

Bryant's jerseys were outselling O'Neal's in Southern California sporting goods stores at the time, and rumors started that O'Neal was jealous, as he allegedly was with Penny Hardaway when they played together for the Orlando Magic.

Phil Jackson gets Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant to 3-peat with Lakers

NBA commissioner David Stern hands Los Angeles Lakers Phil Jackson (left), Shaquille O'Neal (center) and Kobe Bryant (right) their championship trophy at the end of Game 4 of the NBA Finals at The Meadowlands.
© Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY via Ima

After hiring Phil Jackson to be the next coach of the team, the Lakers went on to win NBA Championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002.

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Those championship seasons weren't without their drama, however. O'Neal and Bryant began feuding during the 2001 season. Shaq reportedly came into training camp out of shape, which disappointed Jackson and also Bryant, who worked hard over the offseason to improve his game.

Not too much was made public about the feud in the 2001-02 season as the team dealt injuries and personal tragedies. O'Neal missed training camp due to surgery on an arthritic toe. He chose not to undergo a more involved surgery that would have kept him out of action for a longer period of time. Jackson also missed most of camp due to the death of his 94-year-old mother, and Bryant returned to Philadelphia to bury his grandfather. Combined with the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, O'Neal said it would be hard for basketball players to be divided by pettiness.

Despite the rocky season, the Lakers won their third consecutive championship, defeating the New Jersey Nets in the Finals four games to none. It was the Lakers' first championship sweep in their history, and O'Neal won his third consecutive NBA Finals MVP.

After adding veteran stars Gary Payton and Karl Malone, the Lakers failed to win a fourth championship as Bryant and Shaq could no longer contain their comments – constantly sniping at each other through the media.

After learning of Jackson's departure after the season and hearing general manager Mitch Kupchak say he would consider trading him, O'Neal demanded to be traded – which he was, to the Miami Heat.

A day after O'Neal was traded, Bryant re-signed with the Lakers for seven years and $136 million.