Kobe, Shaq And Phil: The Inside Story Of A Powerful Lakers Dynasty That Put The Franchise Back On The Map

Shaquille O'Neal (L) and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers talk during the 1st quarter of game two of the NBA Finals against the New Jersey Nets 07 June 2002 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. The Lakers have a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. AFP PHOTO/Lucy NICHOLSON (Photo by LUCY NICHOLSON / AFP) (Photo credit should read LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal joined forces to bring the Lakers three straight national titles and restore the team into a powerful NBA franchise.

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal joined forces to bring the Lakers three straight national titles and restore the team into a powerful NBA franchise. But the two basketball icons also loathed each other in a way no other two teammates had before. So how did the superstar pair, along with coach Phil Jackson, result in one of the greatest teams in NBA history?

New York Times best selling author Jeff Pearlman shares the inside of story of the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 through 2004 in his new book “THREE-RING CIRCUS: Kobe, Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty.” Through the inner turmoil of taunts and trade rumors, the Lakers endured the adversity and even thrived. Today on AirTalk, Larry talks with Pearlman about the new book and what the story and legacy of the team means in the wake of Bryant’s tragic death earlier this year. Do you have questions or memories of the team? Join the conversation by calling 866-893-5722.

Guest:

Jeff Pearlman, New York Times best-selling author, his latest book is “THREE-RING CIRCUS: Kobe, Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty,” (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020); he tweets

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