OK combination: From three consecutive championships to parting ways, what exactly happened?

Looking back then, the pair of Kobe and O'Neal made the whole league frightened! In 1996, Kobe was selected by the Charlotte Hornets as a high school student at the 13th pick in the first round, and was then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Just a week later, Shark O'Neal also traveled west from the Orlando Magic to Angel City as a free agent, and the prototype of the OK combination appeared in front of everyone.

However, the two of them did not have a smooth journey at the beginning. Kobe is agile and agile, good at outside breakthroughs and mid-range shots; O'Neal is strong in the inside with his strong physique and grabbing boards, and his low-level singles are his best. During the game, the two often made mistakes in cooperation. O'Neal was in the main position in the interior, and Kobe failed to pass the ball in time, causing the offense to stagnate; Kobe held the ball from the outside, and O'Neal failed to open up the space in time, causing congestion in the interior. In the 1997 Western Conference semi-finals, the Lakers played against the Jazz. Rookie Kobe made four consecutive shots in the final stage of the critical fifth game, directly causing the Lakers to be eliminated. After the game, O'Neal's dissatisfaction with Kobe was overwhelmed, and this incident was infinitely amplified by the media, which put the OK group under huge public pressure.

But the setback did not defeat them, but instead made them realize that if they want to win the championship, they must change and must be adjusted. In 1999, the arrival of Phil Jackson became a turning point in the fate of the OK group. The triangular offensive tactics brought by Zen master emphasize ball transfer, players' unball running and support. This tactical system allows Kobe and O'Neal to maximize the advantages of this. After O'Neal received the ball from the inside, he can not only attack strongly, but also attract double-teams to create open opportunities for the outside line; Kobe used the ball to run without the ball, and after receiving the ball, he fired the ball from the outside or broke through to pass the ball, revitalizing the team's offense.

From 2000 to 2002, the OK group ushered in their dynasty era. In the 2000 regular season, O'Neal averaged 29.7 points, 13.6 rebounds and 3 blocks, winning the scoring champion and regular season MVP; Kobe also had an outstanding performance of 22.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. In the playoffs, they passed the game and after a major reversal of the Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers once again entered the NBA Finals 12 years later. In the finals, the OK combination beat the Pacers and won the first championship in team history since 1988. O'Neal was elected FMVP without any suspense with his dominant performance of 38 points, 16.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game.

2000 - In the 2001 season, the Lakers ranked second in the Western Conference with 56 wins and 26 losses. In the playoffs, the OK group led the team to the "Kill God" mode and advanced to the finals with a sweep. In the finals, facing the 76ers led by Iverson, although they lost their first game, the OK combination quickly adjusted in the following four games. O'Neal continued to put pressure on the inside, Kobe strengthened his outside firepower and organization, the Lakers won four consecutive games, winning two consecutive championships 4-1, and O'Neal was re-elected as FMVP.

2001 - 2002 season, the Lakers ranked third in the Western Conference with 58 wins and 24 losses. In the playoffs, the OK combination was still brave. In the Western Conference Finals, the OK combination scored 60 points in a combined win over the victory. In the finals, the OK group led the team to sweep the Nets 4-0, achieving a three-game championship. O'Neal won the FMVP for the third time in a row, and the OK group was awarded the title of god.

But who would have thought that this invincible combination would also go its separate ways. As Kobe's football skills become increasingly superb and his personal data becomes more eye-catching, he is no longer satisfied with just acting as the deputy next to O'Neal. Kobe is eager for more ball rights and wants to be the real core of the team. As for O'Neal, as the boss of the team for many years, he is used to taking himself as the tactical core. The two people's tactical status and ball rights distribution on the court are getting deeper and deeper, and the collision of ideas brought about by their personality and pursuit of differences is becoming more and more intense. O'Neal's "lazy training attitude" and "privileged player style" made Kobe dissatisfied, and Kobe's increasing excellence also seriously threatened O'Neal's status. The Sharks repeatedly emphasized in front of the media that he is the boss of the Lakers and that he is the only core and leader of the team. Kobe could no longer stand his position as a millennium second-year-old and his treatment of passing the ball first and then shooting.

After losing the 2004 Finals, the Lakers Dynasty fell apart. O'Neal failed to renew his contract and was sent to the Miami Heat. A day later, Kobe renewed his contract with the Lakers to become the team leader. The OK group that once created the Lakers Dynasty officially parted ways. The Sharks swam eastward to the hot Miami, and Keruo was willing to become the boss of the Lakers, and the two were separated from each other. Kobe has always avoided reporters' questions about O'Neal. O'Neal initially used "that person" to replace Kobe, and later he used his language talent to speak out in a blunt way of sarcasm and sarcasm. The OK combination that used to be in love with brothers was like a stranger.

Fortunately, time will smooth out the trauma and bridge the cracks. Later, O'Neal finally put down his figure, ignored past grudges, and took the initiative to talk to Kobe. Kobe naturally didn't understand the charm. The two of them hugged each other passionately, as if they had returned to the familiar time they used to be. In the 2009 Phoenix All-Star Game, Kobe and O'Neal teamed up again after five years. They no longer laugh at each other, sarcasm and sarcasm, but they each expressed their admiration and reverence, and their words revealed their nostalgia and nostalgia for their former partners. Twelve years later, Kobe and O'Neal held up the All-Star MVP trophy together. At that moment, the OK combination was OK again.