Shaq Admits He Made Kobe Bryant “A Running Joke” for Copying Michael Jordan: “Damn Mike, That’s the Flu Game, Mike?”

The NBA has seen many stars. There are many players who have earned recognition as one of the greats. But even in the group of great NBA players, there resides a subset or a smaller group of players which were all one of a kind. Shaq and Kobe were both among those elite players who changed the course of the game with their tremendous career.

Kobe and Shaquille O’Neal had a proper story. The story consisted of the start for their friendship, their surge towards the top, the ultimate success, rifts and downfall of the friendship. The duo together dominated the league for almost all the years they played for the Lakers together. Moreover, the Kobe and Shaq story did not end as well as it started.

When the Lakers drafted Kobe in 1996, the team was in transition. They had also just brought in Shaq from Orlando magic. Kobe believed even at 18 years of age that he would achieve success with Shaq in the Lakers. Even at such a young age, he knew how good he is and can be. He aimed for multiple championships and the duo of Kobe and Shaq achieved the three peat (2000-2002). Kobe’s Mamba mentality was one of a kind and will always remain. However, he was immensely inspired by his idol, Michael Jordan, like a lot of other NBA stars were.

WATCH THIS STORY: Best of Kobe vs MJ.

Kobe Bryant’s surprising relationship with Michael Jordan, which gave birth to Shaq Diesel’s ‘running jokes’

Kobe became obsessed with his idol, Michael Jordan. He was absolutely enchanted with Michael Jordan. Kobe made sure to learn everything he could from MJ. Kobe began mimicking his moves, studying his approach. This gave birth to a running joke about which Shaq once revealed about.

“We noticed that everything he did looked like Michael. From the moves, to the walk, to the talk,” Shaq said. “It was like an ongoing joke. Every time he did something, we’d be like ‘damn.’ One time he was sick in a game, we was, ‘Damn Mike, that’s the flu game, Mike?’”

018634.SP.1101.lakers.AR The Los Angeles Lakers Shaquille O’Neal(left) and Kobe Bryant prior to game against Utah at the Staples Center on 11/1/00. (Photo by Anacleto Rapping/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Shaquille O’Neal has always been ‘the funniest one’ in every locker room. He was always the one to start different jokes, pranks. Shaq always pranked his teammates. He was also friendly for most of his time at the Lakers’ with Kobe. It was towards the latter part of 2003-2004 season that the rift between Kobe and Shaq started. The spat was basically just a case of two absolutely talented players asserting their roles in the team. This led to disagreements along with mismanagements from the Lakers and force Shaq out of the team. 

Read more: Shaq recalls his painful beef with Kobe Bryant.

Lakers Kobe Bryant bumps chests with Shaquille O’Neal after O’Neal got fouled scoring in the first half during the First Round of the Western Conference Playoffs at Staples Center Sunday April 21, 2002.Trailblazer Damon Stoudamire looks on from the left. Lakers won 95–87. (Photo by Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

There was nothing personal, nor was there any bad blood between the two. That is why years later they had a one on one sit down and addressed and made peace with each other. It was also released publicly. The video proved that the two were always friends. Despite their differences, they always wanted the best for each other. Even when Kobe is no more, Shaq always remembers Kobe in good light. He has often gotten emotional when on some occasions the conversation included his friend, Kobe Bryant’s mention.

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