Through his 19-year career, Shaquille O’Neal played with both Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
“They’re different,” said O’Neal to AttennaMag.com. “LeBron is more of an all-around player — ‘Hey this guy’s open, let me kick it to him.'”
O’Neal played 53 games through the 2009-10 season with James in Cleveland with the Cavaliers.
“Kobe is more of, ‘Oh, we’re down six? I’m going to shoot it three times and get us six points,'” said O’Neal.
Bryant and O’Neal won three titles in eight years together with the Lakers, before O’Neal was traded to the Miami Heat.
O’Neal finished his career with four championships, winning with the Heat in 2006. Bryant has five total, two since the departure of the All-Star center.
“They’re both great players,” said O’Neal of James and Bryant. “To me. Dr. J [Julius Erving] was the greatest player ever. But I ask other people, they say [Michael] Jordan, some say Kobe, some people say LeBron. It’s always going to be a matter of opinion.”
Erving was a star and 1983 champion with the Philadelphia 76ers, although his best days may have been in the American Basketball Assn. with the New York Nets.
O’Neal is currently a part owner of the Sacramento Kings and analyst for TNT.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.
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