Kapitel 110: The Great Shark Travels East, Shocking the League!
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On June 20, 2004, the streets of Los Angeles were packed with people celebrating the Lakers' recent championship victory. The team had delivered another title to the city, and the fans were out in full force for the championship parade.
The Lakers' players sat atop buses, donning Lakers T-shirts and baseball caps, accepting flowers and applause from the enthusiastic fans. Yet, amid the cheers and celebrations, Wang Chong found himself feeling somewhat out of place. He wasn't one for noisy crowds. His personality inclined him towards quieter settings.
Next to him, Shaquille O'Neal was beaming, energized and basking in the moment. The over-300-pound center had every reason to be thrilled. Winning his fourth championship and earning his fourth Finals MVP (FMVP) had silenced critics who had doubted him.
"Who says I'm too old?" O'Neal thought to himself. "I still got plenty of bite left. Don't believe me? Come and find out!"
This latest championship boosted O'Neal's confidence, making him feel like anything was possible. He cast a glance at Wang Chong, his teammate, and an idea popped into his head. Putting his arm around Wang Chong's shoulders, Shaq grabbed a microphone and addressed the cheering crowd.
"We gotta give it up for Wang Chong!" O'Neal bellowed. "Without him, we might not have won this championship. He's my best brother and my best partner!"
The crowd roared in approval, chanting Wang Chong's name over and over again. It was true—Wang Chong had been instrumental during the Finals. His scoring wasn't as high as Kobe's, but his efficiency had been unmatched. Whenever the Pistons' defense stifled the Lakers, Wang Chong had stepped up and kept the team's offense alive.
On the bus, O'Neal's words led to a range of reactions.
Phil Jackson, the Lakers' head coach, smiled knowingly, his expression somewhat cryptic. Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak frowned ever so slightly, while Kobe Bryant yanked his baseball cap lower to obscure his obvious displeasure.
Nobody thought O'Neal's praise for Wang Chong was just casual banter. The underlying message was clear. By calling Wang Chong his "best brother" and "best partner," O'Neal had effectively sidelined Kobe from the narrative—titles that had long been used to describe Kobe's relationship with Shaq. The implication was unmistakable: Shaq believed he could continue winning titles with Wang Chong, with or without Kobe.
Even though the Lakers had just won their fourth championship, the rift between O'Neal and Bryant was still alive and growing deeper.
Wang Chong noticed the tense atmosphere and couldn't help but smirk. He had no intention of getting caught up in the ongoing feud between Shaq and Kobe. He knew the writing was on the wall—O'Neal wouldn't win this battle, at least not against the team's owner, Jerry Buss.
Buss had always favored Kobe. He believed in Kobe's potential, his future accomplishments, and his massive commercial value. And in hindsight, Buss was right. Kobe would go on to become one of the most influential players in NBA history, second only to Michael Jordan.
For the Lakers, commercial value was sometimes just as important as championships, and Kobe's star power would keep the team relevant and profitable for years to come. O'Neal, as dominant as he was on the court, could never match Kobe's global influence.
Wang Chong realized that if anyone was leaving the Lakers, it was going to be Shaq, not Kobe. Buss had made his choice.
As for Wang Chong, he wasn't planning to stick around in Los Angeles forever either. He knew he was destined to be the leader and focal point of his own team. There was no room for two tigers on the same mountain, as the saying went, and that applied to both the Shaq-Kobe partnership and his own future with Kobe.
Once Shaq was gone, Kobe would undoubtedly try to assert himself as the undisputed leader of the Lakers, becoming even more aggressive in the process.
However, Wang Chong knew that in the season after Shaq's departure, Kobe didn't fully let loose right away. In the 2004-05 season, Kobe averaged just over 20 shots per game, not many more than in the previous seasons with Shaq. In fact, Kobe even averaged a career-high 6 assists per game that season.
Unfortunately for the Lakers, Kobe's more balanced approach didn't translate into success. The team finished 12th in the Western Conference and missed the playoffs.
It wasn't until the 2005-06 season, when Kobe realized that his teammates couldn't carry the load, that he began to play with unrestrained freedom. He averaged a staggering 27.2 shots per game, claimed the scoring title with 35.4 points per game, and famously dropped 81 points in a single game against the Raptors.
Given all this, Wang Chong felt it was worth staying with the Lakers for another season. Los Angeles offered high visibility and exposure, and for now, there weren't any better options on the table.
Going to Miami to team up with Shaq and his old college teammate Dwyane Wade sounded tempting. Together, they could easily win two or three more championships. But Wang Chong knew that wasn't likely. The Heat had already depleted their roster by acquiring O'Neal, trading away Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant, and draft picks. There was no realistic way they could afford to bring him in without giving up Wade.
So, Wang Chong decided to stick with the Lakers for one more year, put up impressive stats, further refine his game, and wait for the right opportunity to become the leader of his own team.
After the championship parade, the focus shifted to the NBA Draft on June 25, 2004.
Though the 2004 draft wasn't as star-studded as the 2003 class, there were still some standout players, like Dwight Howard (the No. 1 overall pick), Luol Deng (7th), Andre Iguodala (9th), Al Jefferson (15th), Josh Smith (17th), and Kevin Martin (26th).
Wang Chong admired the young talent entering the league, but he had little say in the Lakers' draft strategy. With the best record in the league, the Lakers were picking last in the first round, and with Kobe already on the team, they had no need for another shooting guard.
Following the draft, the NBA's free agency period began, and the Lakers' front office was immediately thrust into the intense business of contract negotiations and trades.
Shaq, still riding high from the championship, made two bold demands. First, he wanted a massive contract extension worth $150 million. Second, he insisted the Lakers trade Kobe and acquire an All-Star point guard to pair with him and Wang Chong.
Shaq envisioned a new "Big Three" that would dominate the league.
But the Lakers' management, led by Buss, saw things differently. They had witnessed Shaq's decline over the past two seasons, and although he was still dominant, his numbers and durability had taken a hit. Plus, without Wang Chong stepping up in the Finals, they might have lost to the Pistons.
So, when Shaq made his demands, Buss and the front office refused. The team had no intention of trading Kobe, and they weren't keen on giving Shaq a $150 million contract either.
Shaq was stunned. How could the Lakers turn their backs on him after he had just won them another title?
As negotiations reached a stalemate, Shaq demanded a trade.
Not long after, Kobe announced that he was opting out of his contract to test free agency, which sent shockwaves through the Lakers' organization. Rumors swirled that the Clippers were willing to offer Kobe a max contract, and Kobe was seriously considering it.
Desperate to keep their star, Buss stepped in and offered Kobe a seven-year, $136.4 million contract, complete with a no-trade clause. Kobe accepted.
Shaq, furious that Kobe was getting a massive deal while his own demands were being rejected, dug in his heels and reiterated his trade request.
Two days later, the Lakers made the bombshell announcement: Shaquille O'Neal had been traded to the Miami Heat in exchange for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant, and two draft picks.
The entire league was in shock.
Shaq's move to the Eastern Conference was seismic, shaking up the power structure of the NBA. Lakers fans, who had just celebrated a championship, were now in dismay. Some even protested outside the Staples Center, demanding to know why the team had traded away the Finals MVP.
The Lakers' PR team deftly shifted the narrative, emphasizing the feud between Shaq and Kobe and downplaying Shaq's exorbitant contract demands. Local media latched onto the story, painting Kobe as the one who had forced Shaq out.
For Lakers fans, the rollercoaster of emotions was too much to handle. Just weeks ago, they had envisioned a future with a Big Three of Shaq, Kobe, and Wang Chong winning multiple titles. Now, without Shaq, the team's prospects seemed dim.
While Lakers fans despaired, the rest of the league rejoiced. Without Shaq, the Lakers were no longer invincible. And the Heat? With Shaq anchoring their lineup, their future suddenly looked a lot brighter.
End of this chapter
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