O’Neal Says It’s Bryant’s Turn

If the Laker season goes as he plans, and he remains healthy, and the team wins a third consecutive NBA title, Shaquille O’Neal said there could only be one league most valuable player: Kobe Bryant.

Speaking at what appears to be the tail end of one of the famous feuds in team sports, O’Neal said before Friday night’s exhibition game against the Phoenix Suns at San Diego that he would dedicate his season to winning Bryant the award. If they play well together, if the Lakers win again, O’Neal said, Bryant’s MVP could coexist with their championship.

“I want my boy to get it this year,” O’Neal said. “I want Kobe to be MVP. I’m going to stay on him, keep giving it to him. It’s his turn. I had my turn. I had a lot of turns. I got one. He doesn’t know this, but I want him to get it.”

Told of O’Neal’s plan, Bryant rocked back on his heels and raised his eyebrows.

“I don’t know what to say,” he said quietly. “I think it’s everybody’s dream, but it’s not one of my goals.”

That’s OK, because O’Neal has made it one of his .

“I’m tired of people talking about everybody else, like Kobe doesn’t even exist,” O’Neal said. “People talk about Michael [Jordan], Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, those guys. Forget that. My boy is a force to be reckoned with. I’m going to be his big bully, give him a chance to run around and do what he does.”

O’Neal smiled at the lengths their relationship has come. The two often are seen laughing together during practice, talking familiarly, as though they’ve found common ground outside of basketball.

“I don’t know why,” O’Neal said. “It just changed one day. I think people were wanting us to fight so much, that he changed. I changed.

“I’m happy, brother, because he’s on my team.”

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The Lakers lost to the Suns, 112-101, dropping their exhibition record to 1-3. Bryant scored 25 points and O’Neal had 17. ... O’Neal said he weighs 335 pounds, exactly what he was at the end of last season. His body fat, he said, is 14%, down from 16% at the start of camp. “I just look bigger,” he said. ... Perry Rogers, based in Las Vegas, is O’Neal’s new agent. Rogers also has Andre Agassi as a client. ... Robert Horry and Mitch Richmond did not dress for Friday’s game. Though Horry is suffering from a cold, Coach Phil Jackson said he simply wanted to give the veterans a rest. He also wanted to see more of other players. ... Because of an 11 p.m. curfew at the San Diego airport, the Lakers were in a bit of a rush. They chartered to Las Vegas after the game.