Spork Ep. 55: The Great Divorce: What If Shaq and Kobe Stayed Together?

It is the greatest "divorce" in sports history. In 2004, the Lakers chose Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O’Neal took his talents (and his hardware) to Miami. But what if the alpha and the omega of the Staples Center had actually sat down, set their egos aside, and decided to ride it out until the Big Aristotle finally hung up his size 22 sneakers in 2011?In this episode of Spork, we aren’t doing the "lazy" math. While many fans claim they would have won 8 or 10 rings, we’re keeping it grounded in reality. We explore a timeline where the duo stays together, but age, chemistry, and the rise of the Spurs and Celtics Big 3 still play their parts.In this episode, we break down:The "Peace Treaty" of 2004: How Phil Jackson (or Jerry Buss) could have brokered a truce that kept Shaq in Purple and Gold.The Ring Count: Why we believe they only add one or two more trophies (2006? 2009?) rather than a decade of dominance. We look at the physical decline of Shaq and how a ball-dominant Kobe would have had to carry the load earlier than expected.The Roster Ripple Effect: If Shaq stays, does Pau Gasol ever become a Laker? How do the Lakers build a bench around two massive max contracts as the league shifts toward the "Big 3" era in Boston and Miami?Shaq’s Sunset Years: What does "Laker Legend Shaq" look like in 2010 and 2011? Does he accept a role as a high-level veteran presence, or does the friction reignite as he moves into the "Cleveland/Boston" phase of his career while still in Hollywood?The GOAT Debate: How does a 5-ring Kobe and a 5-ring Shaq change their respective standings against MJ and Kareem?As always, send any questions/comments/concerns to us at [email protected].