Phil Jackson takes shots at the Celtics

[scanry]

Oh yeah...and the classic... "Kobe needs to learn about playing team ball and stop being so selfish." Followed in the next sentence with. "This is my team and the ball needs to go through me."

Although many of us fans do appreciate his contributions, as this post states, he was unprofessional. Shaq could have gone down in history as the greatest center ever. He barely cracks the top 5 if that. If only he had a work ethic. And that is why fans like me, who do appreciate his contributions, cannot stand him. He will pull the same with the Suns...mark my words!

I agree. He's already sucking Kobe's balls as we speak.

BTW he didn't agree to a 20mil/yr with the heat. Riley offered him a 100mil/5yr instead of a 100mil/4yr and Riley supposedly said that he could retire after his 4th season with the heat.

[iggypop123]

they couldnt push for wade cause kobe was waiting to leave for the clippers. if they had time to wait out it would have been wade instead of butler.

[DrHouse]

Does anyone honestly think Kobe would have left for the Clippers?

Give me a break, there is nothing on this planet that could get Kobe to sign with the Clippers.

[SequSpur]

dude, I WAS SCREAMING during the spurs/celtics game about the moving screens... bull man..

[TheMACHINE]

No, Mitch ed up later trading caron butler for stonehands

then mitch traded stonehands for gasol

[WayOutWest]

I don't think most Laker fans really "hate" Shaq, but he really frustrated many of us with some of his "unprofessional" at ude:

1. Shaq reported to training camp fat & out of shape every single year after the 99-00 season.
2. When the Lakers lost a couple of games, Shaq usually pointed the finger at everyone else but himself as the problem for the losses, usually saying "my team isn't giving me enough touches" - got to be like a broken record.
3. Instead of getting a needed toe surgery at the conclusion of the 01-02 season, he waited until mid September to have the surgery, stating "I got hurt on company time, so I’ll heal on company time." - That may be OK for us working stiffs, but for someone making $27 million a year and the rest of the team depending on him - come on.
4. During the 03/04 season, Shaq demanded a salary extension of $30 million per year if he was to stay in LA (ridiculous for a starting to go over the hill, fat, out of shape big man) - of course as soon as he was traded to Miami, he renegotiated his existing contract (with extension) down to $20 million per year.
5. As soon as he left the Lakers he was dissin not just Kobe, but the entire Laker organization for weeks (who had stroked his ego & put up with his immaturity for years to keep him happy) - kind of a slap in the face.
6. For his first 2 years in Miami, he actually showed up to training camp in shape - another slap in the face (of course his last 2 years on Miami he went back to his old routine of fat & out of shape).

There were a lot of good moments with Shaq over the years, and I think he has matured to the point by this year that he doesn't do many of these things any more, but this is the reason many of us in LA get enjoyment of seeing the Suns struggling.

I just wished about 8 years ago someone could have injected some of Tim Duncan's or Karl Malone's "big man" professionalism & work ethic into Shaq - he would probably still be on the Lakers (and respected more by Laker fans).

Totally agree. The final straw was Shaq insulting the owner durring a 03/04 pre-season game in Hawaii. After a dunk he pointed to Dr. Buss in the stands and yelled "pay me my money".

[picnroll]

then mitch traded stonehands for gasol

Don't you mean West traded for Gasol?

[gmartin02]

Totally agree. The final straw was Shaq insulting the owner durring a 03/04 pre-season game in Hawaii. After a dunk he pointed to Dr. Buss in the stands and yelled "pay me my money".

Oh yeah - if forgot about that one - Snaq - what an ungrateful classless immature man child.

Could you imagine Duncan yelling at Peter Holt "pay me my money" during a game?