When a young Kobe Bryant addressed getting slapped by Shaquille O'Neal: "People can't expect us not to have fights" - United States News Beep

Usually, when teammates get involved in a fight or even a heated argument, the tendency is to sweep it under the rug and avoid addressing it publicly. But that was never the way Kobe Bryant operated, even during his early years in the NBA.

So, when he and Shaquille O’Neal got involved in a heated pickup game altercation during the 1998 lockout – one that reportedly ended with the seven-foot big man slapping Bryant across the face over disagreements on foul calls – Kobe never tried to downplay that situation.

Instead, the shooting guard openly admitted that more confrontations like that were bound to happen and none of it was driven by ego alone.

Moreover, young Kobe also admitted that since h and Shaq were both alpha personalities, whose only desire was to win every time they touched the ball; thus, because of that mindset, tensions were going to escalate from time to time.

“You have two competitive guys going head-to-head, so you’re going to have fights,” Kobe said. “People can’t honestly expect myself and Shaq to be together for 20 years and not have an argument, not have a fight. That’s just like fantasy. That’s not going to happen.”

Kobe and Shaq saw the bigger picture

Throughout their years together in Los Angeles, there was always an underlying battle regarding who the true face of the franchise was. The media added more fuel to the fire by constantly questioning who the bigger superstar was and who held a strong hold in the locker room.

Yet despite all that tension and jealousy, Kobe and Shaq still managed to build one of the greatest dynasties in league history. Together, they led the Lakers to a historic three-peat, winning more than 55 games in each of the regular seasons while consistently holding their position as a top-five offensive force.

Still, when they managed to temporarily suppress their differences for the sake of winning, those issues never truly disappeared.

Eventually, the breaking point came during the 2004 offseason when the Lakers organization decided to fully commit to building around KB24 and traded O’Neal to the Miami Heat, despite the duo reaching the NBA Finals in the previous campaign.

That decision showed how both these players consistently fought for internal supremacy. Even when building a dynasty, neither stopped competing to establish themselves as the superior force, forcing the Lakers to break that tandem on a sour note.

Bryant knew what his mindset was

What made the Black Mamba’s mentality even more fascinating was that he insisted his confrontational approach was not exclusive to Shaq. He admitted that the same fierce competitiveness showed up even when he played basketball with family members, including his own cousins.

To Kobe, competition was personal, no matter who stood against him.

“When I play my cousin one-on-one to this day, after the first point we’re fighting,” Kobe added. “We’re practically almost throwing blows and that’s part of basketball.”

This just no matter how the media or organizational members questioned his competitive drive and intensity, Kobe, from a young age, was authentic and never shied away from portraying his true self and the situation.

This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

When a young Kobe Bryant addressed getting slapped by Shaquille O’Neal: “People can’t expect us not to have fights”

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