Shaquille O'Neal book details mistrust with Kobe Bryant

Shaquille O'Neal with Kobe Bryant

The rape accusations by a Colorado hotel worker against Kobe Bryant was the beginning of the end of a good relationship between the Lakers' star and Shaquille O'Neal, the recently retired center writes in his new book.


In an excerpt of "Shaq Uncut: My Story" posted on Deadspin.com, O'Neal wrote that the two stars were sniping at one another during what was a stressful time for both - the rape allegations for Bryant and O'Neal not having a new deal.


"Just before the start of the '03-'04 season the coaching staff called us in and said, ‘No more public sparring or you'll get fined.’ ... Phil was tired of it. Karl Malone and Gary Payton were sick of it," he wrote. "So what happens? Immediately after that Kobe runs right out to Jim Gray and does this interview where he lets me have it. He said I was fat and out of shape. He said I was milking my toe injury for more time off, and the injury wasn't even that serious."


O'Neal said he "exploded" while watching that interview.


"I let the guys know, 'I'm going to kill him,'" he said.


Bryant, O'Neal remembered, told him he was hurt by the lack of support he showed after the rape allegations surfaced.


"Kobe stands up and goes face-to-face with me and says, 'You always said you're my big brother, you'd do anything for me, and then this Colorado thing happens and you never even called me,'" O'Neal wrote.


The argument then escalated with input from Brian Shaw, who pointed out that Bryant never even invited teammates to his wedding. O'Neal admits, he was the one who didn't let it go.


"Everything was starting to calm down when I told Kobe, 'If you ever say anything like what you said (in the interview) ever again, I will kill you."


The split has resulted in numerous awkward moments over the years - including a rap appearance by O'Neal where he asks "Kobe how my a** taste?"


"Kobe stands up and goes face-to-face with me and says, 'You always said you're my big brother, you'd do anything for me, and then this Colorado thing happens and you never even called me.' I did call him. ... So here we are now, and we find out he really was hurt that we didn't stand behind him. That was something new. I didn't think he gave a rat's ass about us either way. 'Well, I thought you'd publicly support me, at least,' Kobe said. 'You're supposed to be my friend.'


"Brian Shaw chimed in with 'Kobe, why would you think that? Shaq had all these parties and you never showed up for any of them. We invited you to dinner on the road and you didn't come. Shaq invited you to his wedding and you weren't there. Then you got married and didn't invite any of us. And now you are in the middle of this problem, this sensitive situation, and now you want all of us to step up for you. We don't even know you.' ...


"Everyone was starting to calm down when I told Kobe, 'If you ever say anything like what you said to Jim Gray ever again, I will kill you.'


"From that day on, I was done dealing with Kobe. I was done dealing with Jim Gray, too. What goes around, comes around. When he got fired, he actually had the nerve to call me and ask me to help him out. What, did you lose Kobe's number?"


This probably serves as one of many examples outlining Shaq feud with Kobe. The above anecdote, though, illustrates just enough how both proved guilty in escalating their fragmented relationship. The two stars could put those petty issues aside for the sake of winning championships for only so long. After winning three, however, it proved the ego, jealousy and mistrust between O'Neal and Bryant proved too difficult to overcome.


All about: Kobe Bryant,   Shaquille O'Neal