Lakers rumors are hard to come by these days. When Isaiah Rider told a story about being offered $10,000 to fight Kobe Bryant allegedly by Shaq, Lake Show Life had to speak on it. We break down how close this incident was to really happening.
Lake Show Life would like to thank Isaiah Rider for the hottest of Lakers rumors this week!
At this point, if any of our readers are coming to the site to look for any news concerning the Los Angeles Lakers, good luck. If you are looking for Lakers rumors of any substance, Jared Dudley provided it.
Considering he is probably the last guy on the bench, that will tell you not much will come through the news cycle until at least May 1st, 2020, the day NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated some decisions would be addressed.
Lakers rumors stories like these are the best. This is why in some ways, being in the sports media is the best job in the world. It can let you in the world that not many fans have access to. Most of the time, these stories can come out in radio interviews and podcasts.
The best discussions are not on the air but off. Sometimes, the fans can get lucky and get stories that cross that line. The interview on the podcast “All the Smoke,” with former Laker Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson was one of those times.
Former NBA player Isaiah Rider was a guest on the podcast and wrote his own chapter on the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud. The language was a little strong so only a few lines will be shared here. For the conversation, click on the colored words above.
Rider, dropped the bombshell of the week explaining how Shaquille O’Neal approached him with a “proposal” should he and Bryant “get into it” physically just after arriving in Los Angeles in 2000.
The offer? Isaiah “J.R.” Rider would get $10,000 to fight Kobe Bryant. — just days after the guard joined the team.
"“When I first get to the Lakers, Shaq tells me, if you and Kobe get into it, it’s 10 G’s in the locker,” Rider said. “This is 3 days into practice.” “I’m like, ‘Man, these boys are crazy, bro,’”"
The Kobe Bryant/Shaquille O’Neal may not be the greatest duo of all time even though they are in the conversation. But after hearing Rider’s story, there is no duo more interesting and entertaining.
ESPN is airing the “Last Dance” on Sunday. Lake Show Life can tell you this, it will be good but if there was a documentary about what really happened behind the scenes with these two, the NBA could stay in hiatus because fans would watch it over and over again.
With all of the drama behind the scenes, it is almost shocking that Shaquille O’Neal and the late Kobe Bryant won three consecutive NBA championships together for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 to 2004. A possible knee injury from Karl Malone may have gotten the duo a possible fourth against the Detroit Pistons.
The duo’s relationship off the court seems to be more entertaining than anything on the court.
Look we all see the highlights here. Both players were the best at their positions and together when focused and not fighting, were the last unstoppable force in the NBA. This was all about two alpha male personalities that wanted to the anointed the best player on the best team at the time.
Kobe Bryant said in an interview this past summer that the Los Angeles Lakers could have won 12 rings if Shaq was focused. At the time many did not agree, but if the animosity wasn’t so bad Kobe Bryant might have seen something none of us did at the time of his statement.
Before we get into this discussion, this is for fun and to pass the time until the NBA season gets back. People that fall under these categories need to find something else to read, seriously.
- Kobe Bryant stans that think this is disrespectful and believes that Rider and Shaq are looking to stain his legacy. If you believe this is true, you haven’t seen (The podcast is on cable on Showtime!) or heard the podcast. Kobe was on an episode one month before his passing. He doesn’t care. If you think so, you’re not a real fan.
- NBA casuals that don’t understand the context of the story. If you don’t think these things happen in sports, more than likely you haven’t participated in sports.
- Anyone that tries to tie LeBron James in this. Believe it or not, social media is doing it. Lake Show Life is not doing this.
Lakers rumors are the most entertaining part of this website or any media outlet. This is why a 20-year-old story made the light of day, plus the cast of characters makes this believable. Yes, this writer believes every word of Isaiah Rider’s story.
Why? Let’s find out over the next several pages.