After a shocking loss in the 2004 NBA Finals to the underdog Detroit Pistons, the iconic Lakers duo of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant was officially over. Despite adding veteran stars Karl Malone and Gary Payton, and having Phil Jackson on the bench, the Lakers were stunned by Chauncey Billups and company—ending a dominant era with a bitter exit.
But behind the scenes, the breakup had been brewing for a while.
Kobe believed it was his time to lead. Shaq still owned the paint. And with egos clashing and championships no longer guaranteed, the Lakers parted ways with their superstar big man. Shaq was traded to the Miami Heat, where a new chapter would unfold—one driven by competition, pride, and surprisingly, selflessness.
Shaq’s Real Motivation: Beat Kobe to Ring #4
Shaq landed in Miami in 2004, joining a squad led by rising phenom Dwyane Wade. Pat Riley, the Heat’s president and coach, made his pitch.
“Pat came in and said, ‘Shaq, I love you… I can give you the whole $120 million, or I can give you $100 million and build a team around you,’” Shaq recalled. “I said, ‘I need to win. I gotta get one before the old boy [Kobe] gets one. I got the biggest house—I’m good. Let’s do it.’”
Despite being one of the league’s most dominant and highest-paid stars, Shaq willingly left $20 million on the table to build a winner. It wasn’t about the money anymore—it was about staying ahead in his personal rivalry with Kobe, and making sure he wasn’t remembered as a one-man show.
Enter Gary Payton: The Voice of Reason
Shaq was reunited with Gary Payton, who knew firsthand the tension that had existed in L.A.
In an interview with Draymond Green, Payton said, “We were struggling… I saw Shaq getting upset we weren’t feeding him the ball. I told him, ‘Look at what D-Wade did last year. This is his team now. If you want to win, you’ve got to let him lead.’”
It was a defining moment. The Diesel could’ve tried to force his way into the spotlight, but instead, he listened. He adapted.
And history was made.
D-Wade Delivered, and Shaq Backed Him Up
The 2006 Finals were a turning point. After falling behind 0-2 to the Dallas Mavericks, Wade put on a show for the ages, averaging over 34 points per game and almost single-handedly carrying the Heat to their first championship.
Shaq’s numbers weren’t what they once were, but he was still impactful—posting 13.7 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, with his trademark efficiency down low. More importantly, he accepted the role of sidekick for the greater good.
Meanwhile, Payton’s leadership helped keep the egos in check, something that hadn’t happened back in L.A.