A common narrative that I’ve seen about the early 2000s Lakers is that they would have still 3-peated if Shaq was paired with any all star guard during that time. That got me think whether Shaq could win with AI, Kidd, T Mac, Vince, Ray Allen or even Baron Davis. Imo I think he would have atleast went back to back with any of these players considering Kobe didn’t add much value in 2000.
Nah he came up big down the stretch in too many playoff games during that three peat especially at times when shaq was off the court due to foul trouble. Kobe also wasn’t just another all star guard lol. He was all nba second team in 2000 2001 and first team in 02 as well as making a defensive team all 3 years. Kidd is prolly the only other guard with comparable accolades in that stretch