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Shaq Fires Back At Kobe For Saying He’d Have 12 Rings If O’Neal’s ‘Lazy Ass Was In Shape’

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Shaq Responds To Kobe Saying Hed Have 12 Rings If ONeal Wasnt Lazy

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During a recent interview at the PHP Agency Convention in Las Vegas, Kobe Bryant claimed he “would’ve had f**king 12 rings” if Shaq wasn’t lazy and had a better work ethic when they played together for the Los Angeles Lakers. A complaint Bryant has been making for years.

As it stands, the duo won three straight NBA titles from 2000 to 2002, but as fans are well aware, there was a whole lot of friction between the two stars which eventually resulted in Shaq departing L.A. for Miami, where he won a fourth NBA championship in 2006.

When asked during the interview who Shaq would be if he had Kobe’s work ethic, Bryant responded, “He’d be the greatest of all-time. He’d be the first to tell you that. For sure. This guy was a force like I have never seen. I mean it was crazy. […] I wish he was in the gym. I would’ve had f**king 12 rings.”

“Me and Shaq sit down all the time and I say, ‘Dude if your lazy ass was in shape…’ I tell him all the time,” Kobe added.

That particular segment of Bryant’s interview made its way to the Instagram account Lakers24ever. It was there that O’Neal apparently got wind of it and issued a classic response.

“U woulda had 12 if you passed the ball more especially in the Finals against the Pistons #facts,” wrote Shaq. “You don’t get statues by not working hard.”

O’Neal may not have had the insane work ethic and attitude that Kobe had when he played. Phil Jackson once said, “Shaq didn’t work at it. It was too easy. He was too big and it was too easy for him.”

However, it’s pretty hard to argue that Shaq didn’t work hard when you consider The Big Aristotle ranks eighth all-time in scoring, went to 15 All-Star games, won three Finals MVP awards, and is one of only three players to win NBA MVP, All-Star game MVP and Finals MVP awards in the same year (Willis Reed and Michael Jordan being the others).

Watch the entire interview below…

UPDATE: Kobe walked back his criticism a little bit, calling Shaq the “Most Dominant Ever.”