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Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal named most difficult to defend

By Kenneth Teape

LOS ANGELES - APRIL 17: Shaquille O'Neal #34 and Kobe Bryant #8 of the Los Angeles Lakers wait for play to resume in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Houston Rockets during the 2004 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on Aril 17, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers won 72-71. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2004 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - APRIL 17: Shaquille O'Neal #34 and Kobe Bryant #8 of the Los Angeles Lakers wait for play to resume in Game One of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Houston Rockets during the 2004 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on Aril 17, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers won 72-71. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2004 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers legends Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal were both picked as the most difficult players to defend.

On June 26th, 1996, the Los Angeles Lakers entered the NBA Draft with one selection; No. 24 overall. They used that pick on point guard, Derek Fisher. However, they would also acquire the draft rights to No. 13 overall pick Kobe Bryant from the Charlotte Hornets on July 11th. The Lakers traded Vlade Divac for Bryant. July 18th, 1996 the Los Angeles Lakers signed free agent center Shaquille O’Neal away from the Orlando Magic.

On July 18th, 1996 the Los Angeles Lakers signed free agent center Shaquille O’Neal away from the Orlando Magic. It was not known at the time, but this was the beginning of a dynamic duo.

O’Neal joined the Lakers as a dominant force. He was already the best center in the league after four seasons with the Magic. Less was known about Bryant, the high school phenom from Lower Merion High School. It was not long until these two became the most fearsome twosome in the NBA.

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With O’Neal and Bryant leading the way, and Phil Jackson hired to bring his triangle offense to Hollywood, the Lakers went on an unprecedented run. They would three-peat, winning the NBA Finals in 2000, 2001, and 2002.

The Lakers would lose in the Western Conference Finals in 2003 and the NBA Finals in 2004. The 2004 Lakers were a super team, but injuries beset them against the scrappy Detroit Pistons. That loss led to an ugly breakup between O’Neal and Bryant, but there was no denying the dominance the two combined for.

Their dominance was something many players saw firsthand. Playing against O’Neal and Bryant was tough enough when it was just one of them. Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype asked some former and current players who the toughest players to defend were. To the surprise of no one, Bryant and O’Neal were both mentioned.

Former NBA swingman, Anthony Parker, provided some insight into what made Bryant so difficult to defend.

"“Kobe Bryant was hardest. You had to respect every pump-fake, jab-step and shoulder-fake because he had the green light to try whatever he wanted and the talent level to pull it off.”"

Parker was not the only player that mentioned Bryant. JJ Redick, Maurice Evans, Ricky Davis, Jamal Crawford, Dorell Wright and DeMarr Johnson all mentioned Bryant as well. Davis mentioned all the different moves and counter moves that Bryant possessed being the reason he was tough to stop.

Evans went into a little more detail about why Bryant was tough to slow down.

"The most difficult player to guard on that list, for me, was Kobe Bryant. He was equally as talented as he was skilled. He could beat you from any position on the floor and his competitive drive and will made him a constant threat to go off for 40 or 50 points at the drop of a dime.”"

While Bryant was mentioned multiple times, O’Neal was mentioned only once. To be fair, only two centers were mentioned in the article. One, Myles Turner, was drafted four years after O’Neal retired.

Kwame Brown, though, had the misfortune of having to slow down O’Neal and mentioned him as the most difficult player to defend.

"“The hardest player to guard was Shaquille O’Neal because of his size and speed. When he could still move, it was crazy. You would need two days for your body to recover after playing against him.”"

O’Neal was one of the most dominant players to ever play in the NBA. Had more players from the early 2000’s been interviewed, there is no doubt that O’Neal would have been mentioned more.

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In addition to those Lakers greats, current superstars such as Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry and Kyrie Irving were mentioned as well. Not surprisingly, Michael Jordan was mentioned as well.

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