In 2003, when the Lakers managed to recruit Gary Payton and Karl Malone, everyone clearly gave them favorites to win the title. The two men were certainly no longer very young, but still very successful, and they came to join an already impressive workforce. Which makes Payton say that the 2003/2004 Lakers were the first superteam.
“It was an interesting year. When me and Karl signed to the Lakers, I was coming for Shaquille O’Neal, and Karl was coming for me. So we came together. And the four of us (with Kobe Bryant editor’s note), we were probably the first superteam.” Gary Payton.
Indeed, having four Hall of Famers in its workforce, it still looks a lot like a superteam. But having so many big players, and therefore big egos, to manage, is not easy. And all the fans got wind of the concerns there would have been in the dressing room that year, especially between Kobe and Shaq. Rumors that Payton wanted to qualify.
“When we started the season it was a little different. I had heard about all the tensions between Shaq and Kobe. It wasn’t really that. It was just that you had two brothers, the big brother and the little brother, and they were competitors. They wanted something from each other. The other wanted something from the other and they were behaving like kids. And that’s all. That’s all it was. They were behaving like kids. ” Gary Payton.
At the time, Bryant was barely 25 years old. Gary Payton took him under his wing. The young full-back apparently impressed him quite a bit and the two later became friends.
“I’m glad I got the chance to be part of the team and meet Kobe because after that we got really, really close. This kid was a really special kid, and he should still be here. No one knew Kobe. I got to know him as a person, as a young man. He was not like what people imagine. Kobe was human, he had feelings, there was a lot going on, but he was still fighting. He was just a guy who had guts on a basketball court, and who wouldn’t let go. He was just doing what he had to do to win. And that’s all. That’s all he was. And I have no problem with that. This is how it should be. ” Gary Payton.
Note that despite the assembly of this first superteam, the Lakers did not win the title that year, as they lost to the Pistons in Finals.
Via Fan Nation.
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