*Originally published on Suite101.com in 2010; minor revisions made pertaining to Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
In the summer of 1999, Phil Jackson joined Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant en route to their first NBA Championship.
In the 1980s, the Los Angeles Lakers had won 5 NBA Championships, including back-to-back championships in 1987 and 1988. The Lakers had also made 4 other NBA Finals appearances between 1983 and 1991. However, by the mid-’90s, the Lakers were fading, with Lakers executive and legend Jerry West ambitiously preparing to create a new Lakers dynasty.
Shaq and Kobe
In 1996, superstar center Shaquille O’Neal broke Orlando Magic fans’ hearts, leaving to join the Lakers. Shaq left behind a team that had won 117 games the past two seasons en route to the Magic’s first NBA Finals appearance (a loss to the Houston Rockets in 1995) and a follow-up loss in the 1996 Eastern Conference Finals to the Chicago Bulls. Shaq also left behind Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway, with whom he had formed one of the best duos in the NBA. While O’Neal was joining a modest Lakers playoff team, he was ready to bring his career and celebrity status to Hollywood.
Before the 1996 NBA Draft, Philadelphia star high school basketball player Kobe Bryant also positioned himself for a career in Hollywood. Bryant was the son of a former NBA player and had even taken a famous pop singer to prom. Destined for a Hollywood lifestyle, Bryant declared that he would only play for one NBA team: the Los Angeles Lakers. Once drafted by the Charlotte Hornets, Bryant’s agent forced a trade to the Lakers—just days before Shaq signed with the team. Despite coming straight out of high school, Bryant—who had the potential to become as good as Michael Jordan and Penny Hardaway—looked like the right player to pair with O’Neal in building a new Lakers dynasty.
Defeated by Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs
With Shaq and Kobe, there were high hopes for an NBA Championship run. However, the Utah Jazz stood in the Lakers’ way. Shaq and Kobe had a lot to learn from the talented duo of John Stockton and Karl Malone. Stockton and Malone would lead the Jazz to consecutive playoff victories over the Lakers. After a 4-1 defeat in the 1997 Western Conference Semifinals, the Lakers were swept by the Jazz in the 1998 Western Conference Finals.
The 1999 NBA Playoffs campaign was different for the NBA. A lockout had led to the loss of nearly half the season. As the playoffs would fortunately go on in their entirety, O’Neal would overcome Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets, 3-1, in the first round. However, David Robinson, Tim Duncan, and the San Antonio Spurs swept the Lakers out of the 1999 NBA Playoffs. Kurt Rambis, who had replaced Del Harris as head coach during the season, would not serve as head coach in 1999-2000.
Phil Jackson and Veteran Players Join Shaq, Kobe in L.A.
After their third consecutive playoff elimination, it was thought that Shaq and Kobe needed a head coach of former Lakers coach Pat Riley’s caliber in order to win the NBA Championship. The Lakers found their coach in Phil Jackson, who had recently left the six-time NBA Champion Chicago Bulls. Jackson brought over a number of personnel from Chicago, including Triangle Offense guru Tex Winter. Eventually, veteran guard Ron Harper joined Jackson in L.A.
Harper joined a strong veteran group in Los Angeles, including former NBA Champions Robert Horry, A.C. Green, and John Salley. Swingmen Glen Rice and Rick Fox hoped to win their first NBA Championship, as did guard Brian Shaw—who had been a teammate of Shaq in Orlando. These veterans looked to groom the younger players, including Derek Fisher and Devean George. Together, they set their sights on winning another Lakers championship.
2000 NBA Championship
The Los Angeles Lakers had a tough road to the 2000 NBA Finals. First, they edged the Sacramento Kings, 3-2, as the home team won every game. Next, they fended off the Phoenix Suns, 4-1. Then, the Portland Trail Blazers stepped in the Lakers’ path.
The Portland Trail Blazers entered the 2000 Western Conference Finals with a nice balance of young players and veterans. They were led by Rasheed Wallace, Steve Smith, Arvydas Sabonis, Damon Stoudamire, and Scottie Pippen—who had starred on Phil Jackson’s NBA Champion Chicago Bulls. The Blazers’ head coach was Mike Dunleavy, who had led the Lakers to the 1991 NBA Finals.
After the Lakers took a commanding 3-1 series lead, the Trail Blazers won the next two games and forced a Game 7. Then, the Blazers put the Lakers’ backs against the wall, taking a double-digit lead into the fourth quarter. At the brink of elimination, Shaq, Kobe, and the Lakers overcame the deficit and willed their way into the 2000 NBA Finals.
In the Finals, the Lakers faced the Indiana Pacers, who were led by Reggie Miller and Rik Smits. The Lakers would take the first two games at home, while the Pacers would take two of three in Indiana, including a 33-point blowout win in Game 5. Still, with a 3-2 lead heading into Game 6, the Lakers were ready to close out the series, holding Rik Smits to 2 points. Both O’Neal and Bryant posted double-doubles, and there would be no Shaq-Kobe feud on this day. With a 116-111 victory, Shaq, Kobe, Phil and the Los Angeles Lakers had brought the 2000 NBA Championship to Hollywood.
Sources:
Araton, Harvey. “Sports of the Times; Shaq is Now California Dreamin’.” The New York Times. July 19, 1996. From NYTimes.com. Accessed June 22, 2010.
Associated Press. “Dreadful drought: Blazers’ dry spell allows Lakers to take Game 7.” CNNSI.com. June 5, 2000. Accessed June 22, 2010.
Basketball-Reference.com. Accessed June 22, 2010.
Beck, Howard. “Lakers Notebook: Jackson Calls in His Troops: Lakers Hire Cleamons; Rodgers Declines Offer.” The Los Angeles Daily News. 1999. From TheFreeLibrary.com. Accessed June 22, 2010.
Green Jr., Ron. “Kobe Bryant was once a Charlotte Hornet, for 13 days.” The Charlotte Observer. March 4, 2010. From CharlotteObserver.com. Accessed June 22, 2010.
“NBA Lockout Chronology.” CNNSI.com. January 6, 1999. Accessed June 22, 2010.
Powell, Shaun. “Shaq finds new team and new aura in Tinsel Town.” The Sporting News. July 29, 1996. From FindArticles.com (BNET). Accessed June 22, 2010.
In the summer of 1999, Phil Jackson joined Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant en route to their first NBA Championship.
In the 1980s, the Los Angeles Lakers had won 5 NBA Championships, including back-to-back championships in 1987 and 1988. The Lakers had also made 4 other NBA Finals appearances between 1983 and 1991. However, by the mid-’90s, the Lakers were fading, with Lakers executive and legend Jerry West ambitiously preparing to create a new Lakers dynasty.
Shaq and Kobe
In 1996, superstar center Shaquille O’Neal broke Orlando Magic fans’ hearts, leaving to join the Lakers. Shaq left behind a team that had won 117 games the past two seasons en route to the Magic’s first NBA Finals appearance (a loss to the Houston Rockets in 1995) and a follow-up loss in the 1996 Eastern Conference Finals to the Chicago Bulls. Shaq also left behind Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway, with whom he had formed one of the best duos in the NBA. While O’Neal was joining a modest Lakers playoff team, he was ready to bring his career and celebrity status to Hollywood.
Before the 1996 NBA Draft, Philadelphia star high school basketball player Kobe Bryant also positioned himself for a career in Hollywood. Bryant was the son of a former NBA player and had even taken a famous pop singer to prom. Destined for a Hollywood lifestyle, Bryant declared that he would only play for one NBA team: the Los Angeles Lakers. Once drafted by the Charlotte Hornets, Bryant’s agent forced a trade to the Lakers—just days before Shaq signed with the team. Despite coming straight out of high school, Bryant—who had the potential to become as good as Michael Jordan and Penny Hardaway—looked like the right player to pair with O’Neal in building a new Lakers dynasty.
Defeated by Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs
With Shaq and Kobe, there were high hopes for an NBA Championship run. However, the Utah Jazz stood in the Lakers’ way. Shaq and Kobe had a lot to learn from the talented duo of John Stockton and Karl Malone. Stockton and Malone would lead the Jazz to consecutive playoff victories over the Lakers. After a 4-1 defeat in the 1997 Western Conference Semifinals, the Lakers were swept by the Jazz in the 1998 Western Conference Finals.
The 1999 NBA Playoffs campaign was different for the NBA. A lockout had led to the loss of nearly half the season. As the playoffs would fortunately go on in their entirety, O’Neal would overcome Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets, 3-1, in the first round. However, David Robinson, Tim Duncan, and the San Antonio Spurs swept the Lakers out of the 1999 NBA Playoffs. Kurt Rambis, who had replaced Del Harris as head coach during the season, would not serve as head coach in 1999-2000.
Phil Jackson and Veteran Players Join Shaq, Kobe in L.A.
After their third consecutive playoff elimination, it was thought that Shaq and Kobe needed a head coach of former Lakers coach Pat Riley’s caliber in order to win the NBA Championship. The Lakers found their coach in Phil Jackson, who had recently left the six-time NBA Champion Chicago Bulls. Jackson brought over a number of personnel from Chicago, including Triangle Offense guru Tex Winter. Eventually, veteran guard Ron Harper joined Jackson in L.A.
Harper joined a strong veteran group in Los Angeles, including former NBA Champions Robert Horry, A.C. Green, and John Salley. Swingmen Glen Rice and Rick Fox hoped to win their first NBA Championship, as did guard Brian Shaw—who had been a teammate of Shaq in Orlando. These veterans looked to groom the younger players, including Derek Fisher and Devean George. Together, they set their sights on winning another Lakers championship.
2000 NBA Championship
The Los Angeles Lakers had a tough road to the 2000 NBA Finals. First, they edged the Sacramento Kings, 3-2, as the home team won every game. Next, they fended off the Phoenix Suns, 4-1. Then, the Portland Trail Blazers stepped in the Lakers’ path.
The Portland Trail Blazers entered the 2000 Western Conference Finals with a nice balance of young players and veterans. They were led by Rasheed Wallace, Steve Smith, Arvydas Sabonis, Damon Stoudamire, and Scottie Pippen—who had starred on Phil Jackson’s NBA Champion Chicago Bulls. The Blazers’ head coach was Mike Dunleavy, who had led the Lakers to the 1991 NBA Finals.
After the Lakers took a commanding 3-1 series lead, the Trail Blazers won the next two games and forced a Game 7. Then, the Blazers put the Lakers’ backs against the wall, taking a double-digit lead into the fourth quarter. At the brink of elimination, Shaq, Kobe, and the Lakers overcame the deficit and willed their way into the 2000 NBA Finals.
In the Finals, the Lakers faced the Indiana Pacers, who were led by Reggie Miller and Rik Smits. The Lakers would take the first two games at home, while the Pacers would take two of three in Indiana, including a 33-point blowout win in Game 5. Still, with a 3-2 lead heading into Game 6, the Lakers were ready to close out the series, holding Rik Smits to 2 points. Both O’Neal and Bryant posted double-doubles, and there would be no Shaq-Kobe feud on this day. With a 116-111 victory, Shaq, Kobe, Phil and the Los Angeles Lakers had brought the 2000 NBA Championship to Hollywood.
Sources:
Araton, Harvey. “Sports of the Times; Shaq is Now California Dreamin’.” The New York Times. July 19, 1996. From NYTimes.com. Accessed June 22, 2010.
Associated Press. “Dreadful drought: Blazers’ dry spell allows Lakers to take Game 7.” CNNSI.com. June 5, 2000. Accessed June 22, 2010.
Basketball-Reference.com. Accessed June 22, 2010.
Beck, Howard. “Lakers Notebook: Jackson Calls in His Troops: Lakers Hire Cleamons; Rodgers Declines Offer.” The Los Angeles Daily News. 1999. From TheFreeLibrary.com. Accessed June 22, 2010.
Green Jr., Ron. “Kobe Bryant was once a Charlotte Hornet, for 13 days.” The Charlotte Observer. March 4, 2010. From CharlotteObserver.com. Accessed June 22, 2010.
“NBA Lockout Chronology.” CNNSI.com. January 6, 1999. Accessed June 22, 2010.
Powell, Shaun. “Shaq finds new team and new aura in Tinsel Town.” The Sporting News. July 29, 1996. From FindArticles.com (BNET). Accessed June 22, 2010.