Remembering Kobe Bryant’s most iconic Lakers teammates

Kobe Bryant is known for being one of the greatest players of all time, flourishing through exceptional individual play. But equally as celebrated are the connections he made with his teammates that translated into five NBA championships.

It’s no secret that, for a significant chunk of his career, the Black Mamba had to be a one-man army for the Lakers. For all the subpar support he received, especially during the middle of the 2000s, there are a handful of players who have left a legacy as some of Kobe Bryant’s most memorable teammates.

Kobe Bryant’s most memorable teammates:

Shaquille O’Neal (1996-2004)

One of the most famous duos across any decade in NBA history, the connection Kobe and Shaq had was nothing short of special. The 7’1″ giant joined the Lakers in Bryant’s rookie year, and while the pair didn’t cause havoc right away, the three-year buildup phase gave the Los Angeles faithful the perfect housewarming party for their new stadium come 2000.

Three years, three rings. Under the tutelage of renowned coach Phil Jackson, the Kobe and Shaq show completely dominated the league from 2000-2002. Though the duo’s feud brought about the end of an era in 2004 and left many wondering what could have been, they later reconciled and forged a newfound friendship which is what lives in the hearts of many, especially after O’Neal’s heartfelt speech at Kobe’s memorial.

O’Neal is the greatest player Kobe ever became teammates with. Shaq was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016 with distinguished career accolades that include four NBA titles, three NBA Finals MVP plums, the 2000 league MVP award, and 15 All-Star selections. His #34 jersey now hangs in Crypto.com Arena’s rafters forever, fittingly next to Kobe’s #8.

Pau Gasol (2008-2014)

In the years following O’Neal’s departure from the City of Angels, Bryant was left having to carry his team to victory mostly by himself. But when the Lakers traded for Pau Gasol in 2008, Kobe finally got his man.

By the time the Lakers got Gasol, the Spaniard was already an established force to be reckoned with from his time with the Grizzlies. He was the 2002 Rookie of the Year and broke numerous franchise records during his time in Memphis. His first year with Kobe resulted in a trip to the NBA Finals before losing to rivals the Boston Celtics in six. Over the next two years, Gasol continued to perform at an exceptional rate and established his partnership with Bryant as one of the best in the league.

Together, they defeated the Orlando Magic 4-1 in the 2009 Finals and exacted the sweetest form of revenge with a Game 7 home victory over the Celtics in 2010. Pau was at the forefront of the title charge in both years, having to defend and score against all-timers in Dwight Howard and Kevin Garnett.

As thrilling as it was to witness Pau and Kobe dominate at the end of the 2000s, it’s their off-court bond that resonates strongly with fans. Their dynamic transcends basketball as both their families are lifelong friends with each other. Since the tragic passing of both Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, Pau has been a true gem for the Bryant family and can be regularly seen spending time with them.

His contributions to the Lakers in the six years he played for them did not go unnoticed and last March 7, 2023, the franchise retired his #16 jersey where it has a permanent spot right beside the #24 worn by one of his very best friends.

Robert Horry (1997-2003)

In comparison to the first two stars mentioned, Robert Horry pales in comparison when you put their career achievements and individual metrics side-by-side. It’s true that he did come off the bench and was never the type of player to erupt for huge numbers each game, but if there’s one thing Big Shot Bob was better at than most people, it was being clutch.

His nickname isn’t just something that was thrown around and eventually stuck. He earned it after a number of pivotal game-winning shots and playoff heroics that are considered the stuff of legend by any standard.

Everywhere he went, championships followed. This was especially true during his tenure with the Lakers as he joined right at the beginning of the Shaq-Kobe era and played as a key off-the-bench option at forward. He was never the best player statistically, but he will always be one of the most dependable teammates anyone can ask for.

One of the most iconic game-winners of all time came from Horry himself. In Game 4 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals, the Lakers trailed 97-99 and had one last shot with time expiring. If they failed to beat the Kings at this stage, they would fall behind 1-3 in the series heading into Sacramento.

The ball naturally fell to Kobe’s hands, but his attempt came up short. Shaq was unsuccessful from point-blank range, then Vlade Divac swatted the ball away from the basket only for Horry to scoop it up and fire away from three.

The rest, as we know it, is history.

Derek Fisher (1996-2004, 2007-2012)

Much like Robert Horry, Derek Fisher is by no means among the most prolific players Kobe’s ever been teammates with when statistics are in consideration. But what makes him a truly memorable part of the Black Mamba’s career is the friendship and mutual respect both share.

Kobe Bryant claimed that Fisher was his favorite teammate of all time. In 2013, journalist Kurt Helin published an article that featured an excerpt of Bryant stating that he wanted his fellow 1996 first-round draftee to return to LA so both of them can finish their careers together.

"“My all time favorite teammate has always been Derek Fisher. He’s been my favorite teammate, I would love to see him back in a Lakers uniform so we could kind of finish out together.”"

As a Laker, Fisher had his fair share of memorable moments. The most iconic of the bunch was his 0.4-second game-winner in the 2004 Western Conference Semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs. It propelled LA to a 3-2 series advantage over the defending champions which later resulted in a Game 6 closeout.

Adding to the magic of Fisher’s buzzer-beater is the fact that by that time, the Trent Tucker Rule was already in place. With the rule in effect, the least amount of time any basketball player can get a normal jump shot off is 0.4 seconds, making D-Fish’s clutch bucket all the more incredible.