The Quest After Five Titles

"As long as Kobe and I are on the same team, I'll never win MVP!" O'Neal clearly understood this fact.

Whether Kobe scored at will or displayed his all-around game, the GOAT's influence on the court was always extraordinary.

When a team had a player like that, no matter how the other players performed, they were bound to be eclipsed by Kobe's brilliance.

The reason the voters gave MVP to Hill this year was that, even with Jordan declining severely, he had still led the team to first place in the Eastern Conference.

And what reason was there to give it to O'Neal?

Because Kobe selflessly sacrificed his own numbers so O'Neal could put up historic statistics?

Or because the team had performed even worse than in previous years?

O'Neal's individual performance made many people feel that those numbers had only been possible because Kobe had set him up and made sacrifices.

No individual honors!

No money!

O'Neal could not think of any reason to remain in Los Angeles.

"Kobe, let this fifth championship be our final memento."

Did O'Neal resent Kobe?

Not at all.

He had always considered Kobe the player he admired most.

No one could train as relentlessly as Kobe, day after day, through spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

No one could save a team from danger time and time again the way Kobe could.

Kobe was the GOAT in O'Neal's heart.

But no matter how much he admired him, O'Neal still wanted to win honors and championships through his own strength.

He did not want to be the greatest second option in history!

It was just like how Webber had rejected invitations from Jordan and Hill back then, insisting on going to a barren place like Sacramento.

O'Neal also wanted to earn honors that truly belonged