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Bryant was surprisingly calm afterward and again a day later. He even took a trip down memory lane, painful as it might have been. It went all the way back to the breakup with Shaquille O'Neal after the 2003-04 season. "You’re not going to find another duo like that ever," he said. "There are other duos that are better than us. [Scottie] Pippen and [Michael] Jordan. But you'll never find a duo with two dominant personalities. Myself and Shaquille, that was kind of once in a lifetime." Why couldn't it last a lifetime? Why did it end amid discord and chaos after the Lakers lost to Detroit in five games in the 2004 NBA Finals? "I'm amazed it went as long as it did. That just wasn’t going to last," Bryant said. "We’re both alpha males. It just wasn’t going to happen. What do you think would happen if you put Jordan with Wilt [Chamberlain]? Not going to happen." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal 

"The big thing for me was when he did an interview in ESPN magazine and he said that he felt like I couldn't win without him. I was fine up until that point," Bryant said. "I'd be damned if I retired and you [reporters] said I couldn't win without this guy. After that, the line was drawn in the sand." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal 

Following the game, Kobe was asked about his own jersey retirement ceremony. Who would present his jersey when the time came? After pausing for a moment, Kobe responded, "I'd probably force Shaq to do it." USA Today Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal 

Shaquille O’Neal is launching his own line of vodka — sensationally titled “Luv Shaq.” The former NBA star plans to launch the brand early next year, and for all those barroom athletes, it is sugar- and gluten-free. We’re told Luv Shaq comes in coconut flavor, and the bottle features an image of O’Neal with giant wings. Drew Adelman, founder of Devotion Vodka, which is producing Shaq’s sauce, tells us it will directly compete with Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Ciroc, but at a “more competitive price.” New York Post

Shaquille O'Neal, Showbusiness 

Wally Szczerbiak: Dwight Howard better figure out his ft shooting. He shoots them like shaq did but he's nowhere near as dominant as shaq was. #Lakers #NBA Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Shaquille O'Neal, Dwight Howard, Wally Szczerbiak 

As more and more NBA players filter into China, Shaquille O'Neal, an all-time basketball great, is also working on tightening his relationship with the country. The retired NBA All-Star center won't be putting his hightops back on anytime soon, but he is more than willing to play other roles in China, as he said at the launch of the NBA New Year celebration game, which will be held between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors in Oakland on Feb 13, the fourth day of Chinese New Year. "I love Chinese people, and if you want to invite me to attend any kind of shows, programs or events, I would be very pleased to do it," said the 40- year-old, who appeared in a show at the Spring Festival gala of a Chinese TV channel this year. China Daily

Shaquille O'Neal, China 

"To any Chinese director in China, if you want me to star in your kung fu movie or Chinese drama movie, call me, and I would be happy to do it. I have always loved Chinese kung fu movies," said the center, who surprised the crowd by saying he wants to be a black Shaolin monk if there is a next life. China Daily

Shaquille O'Neal, China 

Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year. Shaq Friday is when you wander in to Zales and he makes you buy all of the jewelry he designed that looks exactly like what you think Shaquille O’Neal-designed jewelry would look like. The Score

Shaquille O'Neal, Merchandising, Showbusiness 

Brooklyn, Howard said, “was attractive to me because it’s a new place, a new team, and it’s a place where I could basically just write my own history.” “I was struggling with the whole fact that if I go to the Lakers, I’ll be compared to Shaq,” he said. “I didn’t want that. I just wanted to be who I am. I hated that comparison.” New York Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Shaquille O'Neal, Dwight Howard, Deron Williams 

QUESTION: What do you make of the Lakers hiring Mike D'Antoni as their head coach? SHAQUILLE O'NEAL: The Lakers said they were built for a championship run immediately, so I think people are upset they didn't make the logical choice in Phil Jackson. But D'Antoni is a fabulous coach. He's going to bring a lot of excitement back. Kobe Bryant is one of the best players of all time. Steve Nash is happy that he's back. He's going to bring a slight element of Showtime back. KENNY SMITH: There were probably five or six candidates that were probably eligible with Phil Jackson leading the way. I'm not totally surprised at it. Mike D'Antoni has been on the Olympic team, has been around great players, coached Kobe and Dwight (Howard) before and has coached Steve Nash before. He's been on the staff. There's a familiarity with those guys. Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Shaquille O'Neal, Coaching, Media, Mike D'Antoni, Kenny Smith 

QUESTION: How does D'Antoni's offensive system fit with the Lakers? O'NEAL: It's going to be good for Dwight (Howard). He's a great pick and roll big man. D'Antoni is an offensive wizard so he's going to keep everyone involved. He's the type that he's not going to yell at you for taking a shot. He just wants you to run hard and play hard. They're going to play with a lot of freedom out there. SMITH: If you played 15 minutes in your older system, you'd only have three or four shots. His system, if you play 15 minutes, you'll get nine shots. Your offensive output doesn't become an issue in not getting enough touches or the ball not going in enough places. He eliminates that by the style of play. Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Shaquille O'Neal, Coaching, Media, Mike D'Antoni, Kenny Smith 

QUESTION: How fair is the criticism surrounding the defense in D'Antoni's system? O'NEAL: I don't think it's fair criticism. I won three in a row with Phil. We never worked on defense, as when I played for the great Pat Riley. Phil gave us the ability to figure it out. Our defense always started from guys on our team that wanted to play defense. Championship teams win because of team defense, not because of one guy shutting down your guy. SMITH: Because you're in transition, it's more difficult to play defense. The same way you want to get teams in 2-on-1 and 3-on-2 situations, you're in that. It is more difficult to play defense in that regard. But the fact is they have Gasol, Howard and Metta World Peace, who are three really good defenders. I don't think D'Antoni has had three defensive guys like that ever. You have shot blockers. That's the difference. Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Shaquille O'Neal, Coaching, Media, Mike D'Antoni, Kenny Smith 

Fred Kerber: Dwight Howard told after #Lakers shootaround Shaq sed his jabs weren't personal, meant constructive: "I’d rather talk about another subject" Twitter @FredKerber

Los Angeles Lakers, Shaquille O'Neal, Dwight Howard 

Shaquille O'Neal: Did mike brown really get fired. Geeeeez. Dammmmmmmmm Wow Bring on Brian shaw Twitter @SHAQ

Los Angeles Lakers, Shaquille O'Neal, Coaching, Brian Shaw 

Mike Bresnahan: Shaq on TNT: "I’m going on the record. Best center in the West right now is DeAndre Jordan. You heard it here first." Um, Dwight? #Lakers Twitter @Mike_Bresnahan

Los Angeles Clippers, Shaquille O'Neal, DeAndre Jordan 

NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal said he’s been shopping at Zales since he was in college. Now he’s partnered with Irving-based Zale Corp. to create his own collection of jewelry that includes necklaces, crosses and pendants, rings, earrings, bracelets priced from $99.99 to $499.99. He’s modeling earrings, ring and a bracelet in this photo. Dallas Morning News

Shaquille O'Neal 

Shaquille O'Neal knows ... being rich and buying houses is fun ... so despite living in a GINORMOUS 70,000-square-foot mansion ... he dropped $235k on a second, regular person house 30 miles away. Shaq -- who is reportedly worth around $250 million -- currently lives in an 11-bedroom, 13-bath PALACE outside Orlando, FL ... which includes a 20,000-square-foot basketball court and garage filled with DOZENS of sports cars!!! But that just wasn't enough ... 'cause in July the former NBA superstar laid down $235k on a very normal 3,900-square-foot abode ... in a place called Mount Dora, FL. TMZ.com

Shaquille O'Neal 

Ever since Shaquille O'Neal joined its panel, Inside the NBA has loved showing the 1999 clip of Charles Barkley throwing a ball at Shaq's head and the scuffle that ensued. On Thursday night, no less an authority than Mike Tyson weighed in on the clip. The former heavyweight champion was not very complimentary of the pair's fighting style. Then, for some apparent reason, he threatened to kick Barkley in a prominent part of his backside. "Don't fight if that's not what you do" is good advice for anyone. USA Today

Shaquille O'Neal, Media, Charles Barkley, Mike Tyson 

But now, the Dallas Mavericks owner has no one on the Lakers to exchange friendly barbs with. “I miss Shaq and Phil Jackson, I really do,’’ Cuban said before Tuesday’s Mavs-Lakers game at the Staples Center. “The days of having the Bucket Boy, that was kind of special. “Shaq telling me I got lucky and me telling Shaq I love how he planned to grow seven foot tall. Those were true ring battles that were fun. Hopefully someone will pick on me and I can fight back.’’ Asked if he’s afraid to pick a fight with Laker superstar guard Kobe Bryant, Cuban said: “The day I’m afraid of Kobe is the day I unlace them.’’ Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Shaquille O'Neal, Mark Cuban 

TNT's "Inside the NBA" crew has produced some memorable moments, from the Barkley vs. Bavetta race to the "Shirt Off" showdown between Sir Charles and Shaq. Are you ready for Shaq vs. Jason Whitlock in a boxing ring? O'Neal challenged FOXSports.com's columnist to face him in the ring after Whitlock tweeted that the former NBA big man, now working as an in-studio analyst, "is opening the season out of shape, as usual." FOXSports.com

Shaquille O'Neal, Media