As two of the NBA's biggest stars Kobe and Shaq were the dream pairing that propelled the LA Lakers to three successive NBA championships between 2000 and 2002. However the side wasn't big enough for both of their egos and their off-court rivalry over who was the team's leader and top dog became the stuff of legend.

The feud wasn't helped by Kobe's arrest and investigation for sexual assault in 2003 which Shaq believed harmed the side's championship chances. Neither would resist the chance to attack the other in the press. The feud was put to bed when Shaq, who was by then traded away from the Lakers, and Kobe embraced before a game against each other.