Obviously, Kobe did a gigantic heavy-lifting alongside Shaq after 1999-00 season. Kobe was a top 3 player in NBA and the Kobe-Shaq relationship was more like a 1a and 1b situation. They were almost on equal footing.
Having that said, is narrative of “Kobe Bryant was carried by MVP Shaq” still true even almost 25 years later. MVP Shaq almost single-handedly brought Lakers’ 1st Championship for years and should’ve got a uanimous MVP. The likes of Ray Allen, Vince Carter, T-Mac, Michael Redd, Allen Iverson etc. could’ve replaces Kobe that season and Lakers probably would still have won 2000 NBA Championship because of Shaq’s dominance.
In that finals shaq averaged 38 ppg on 61% shooting lolol. Adjust for pace and i bet those numbers are mind-boggling today.
It was mind boggling then it will be otherworldly today
Yeah shaq dominated the finals. But kobe dominated up until the finals. He outperformed shaq in loads of series
Sacramento:
Shaq: 29 ppg, 17 rbs, 54% shooting
Kobe: 28 ppg 49% shooting
Phoenix
Shaq: 30 ppg, 16 rbs, 56% shooting
Kobe: 21 ppg, 45% shooting
Portland:
Shaq: 26 ppg on 54% shooting, 12 rbs
Kobe: 20 ppg on 43% shooting.
So which series did kobe outperform shaq in?