Shaq in Gracious Mood, Kobe Not As Much

Shaq calls Kobe the greatest Laker, Kobe just content being better than Shaq...

In the post-game press conference last night, Kobe Bryant didn't mince words when talking about the ongoing title competition between he and a certain ex-teammate:

“I got one more than Shaq. And you guys can take that to the bank. You guys know how I am. I don’t forget anything.”

Shaquille O'Neal has been a bit more charitable with this message posted to his Twitter account last night:

Congratulations Kobe, u deserve it. U played great. Enjoy it man enjoy it. I know what ur sayin "Shaq how my ass taste"

That followed some comments made on The Tony Bruno radio show the night before game seven of the NBA Finals when he declared Bryant the "greatest Laker."

"Right now he's evolved as the greatest player in Laker history surpassing Magic Johnson and Jerry West, especially if he wins this championship. He'll probably go down as the greatest Laker ever."

"If he wins this championship, he will go down as the greatest Laker ever."

I'm torn. Do I applaud his maturity or lament the loss of his bravado? I guess both. Perhaps someday he'll also be man enough to pass the cape to Dwight Howard. Just don't expect a Shaq retirement party anytime soon.

"I've missed 306 games in my career so I owe myself and people 306 games."

I actually went back and checked. Give him credit, dude still knows how to count.

Whether that tree has any more rings left in it for another 3 or 4 years of basketball is another matter entirely.

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