If you’ve ever watched a Lakers game from LA, you know the stars come out in force to see the action live and in person. How many times did we spot Jack Nicholson in that great court-side seat? But Jack’s not the only big star who’s also a huge Lakers fan. Here’s a great new story featuring another great actor, Leonardo DiCaprio.
At the dawn of the new millennium, the Los Angeles Lakers sat atop the NBA world. Powered by the unstoppable duo of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, the Lakers pulled off the league’s most recent “three-peat,” winning titles in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Together, Shaq and Kobe created a dynasty that mixed dominant inside play with perimeter brilliance — a one-two punch that opposing teams couldn’t contain.
While their relationship was often marked by tension and fiery competitiveness, both superstars knew how to channel that energy when it mattered most. Shaq later admitted that he would push Kobe’s buttons on purpose, using criticism as motivation. The result? A pairing that delivered some of the greatest moments in NBA history.
The most iconic of those moments came during Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers. With less than a minute left, the Lakers had just completed a furious fourth-quarter comeback. Kobe, guarded by Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, slipped past his defender and floated a perfect lob toward the rim. Shaq soared into the air, grabbed it with authority, and slammed it home. The dunk put the Lakers up by six points, sending the Staples Center into absolute chaos.
It wasn’t just a highlight — it was a turning point. That single play sealed the series, propelled the Lakers into the NBA Finals, and cemented the start of a dynasty. Los Angeles went on to win the 2000 championship, with Shaq earning Finals MVP after one of the most dominant postseason runs in history.
Even Hollywood legends took notice. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio, a lifelong Lakers fan who was in the crowd that night, later called the play his greatest live sports memory. “Kobe, Shaq, Trail Blazers, the lob,” DiCaprio recalled on the New Heights podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce. “The whole stadium just shot up into the air. I remember that. That was an incredible moment, man.”
For Lakers fans, that lob has become more than just a clip on highlight reels. It’s a symbol of what happens when talent, willpower, and timing collide. Shaq and Kobe may have clashed at times, but moments like this showed why their partnership is remembered as one of the most dominant in sports history.
Over two decades later, the Lakers still chase the standard that Shaq and Kobe set. Their legacy lives on every time that play gets replayed during the postseason — a reminder of when two superstars combined forces to create one of the most unforgettable dynasties the NBA has ever seen.