Picture Credit: Getty Images
Anyone who follows NBA knows about the legacy of Phil Jackson. He is widely remembered for his stint with the Chicago Bulls where he leading Michael Jordan and Co. to six NBA championships. However, Jackson also had a successful stint with La Lakers, where he led the team to three championships in a row. Lakers at that time had some big names like Shaquille O’Neal , Kobe Bryant and Jerry West. However, despite being a champion side, their were internal rifts going on between the players.
Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant were having a hard time getting along with each other. On the other hand, coach Jackson’s relationship with West was also on the rock. Jackson was so miffed with West at that time that once he even went on to kick West out of the locker room and told him to “get the f*ck out”.
Talking on the latest episode of The Big Podcast with Shaq, the legendary basketball player revealed the insight of the locker room at that time. When Nichelle talked about the incident, Shaq didn’t respond for a while but he later talked about the incident in length.
“I was on the record of saying that if Jerry is not here, I’m not gonna be here so Jerry was my guy. Jerry was the one who brought me here and I have love and respect for Jerry”, said Shaq.
Shaq also revealed that it was him who urged West to bring Jackson on board for Lakers after latter’s successful stint with Bulls.
“So when he left the Bulls, I told Jerry West, ‘Just get him in here.’ This is Jerry, ‘Well, we don’t want to run the triangle.’ I said just bring him in“, revealed Shaq.