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TV-SPECIAL: Kobe And Shaq Talk About Their First Fight

A couple of weeks ago, we got to see one of the greatest NBA-related TV-specials in history!

The two NBA legends, Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas, used to be best friends. Even though they were on different teams, rivals even, the two never made a secret of their friendship, which at that time was uncommon.

But unfortunately their friendship ended on a bitter note after Isiah Thomas’ Pistons played Magic Johnson’s Lakers in two consecutive NBA Finals. During the 1988 Finals, Thomas and Magic had an altercation that ended their friendship – until now!

29 years later, the two reunited in a special on NBA TV. They made peace with one another in one of the greatest moments I’ve ever seen on TV.

This special led to Shaquille O’Neal calling his former teammate Kobe Bryant. Kobe and Shaq were one of the most iconic duos in history. Last night, O’Neal and Kobe’s special, similar to Magic and Thomas’, aired. In this special, the two discussed the first time they had a fight:

“We were playing a pick-up game, it was during the lockout season [1998-1999]. Southwest College, we were playing a pickup game.  We were on opposite teams, and trash-talking.

And you kept saying ‘yeah, take that little [expletive]. Take that little [expletive].’

I’m looking around, ‘oh [expletive], he’s talking to me.’ I said ‘well hold on, ain’t going to be too many more of those ‘little [expletives].’ And what’d you say? ‘Well what you going to to about it?’

The next thing I knew I saw a big hand coming this way, and I remember going [the other way]….

I’m looking at this and I’m saying ‘man, he wants this thing. It affects him. It consumes him.’ And then from that moment on I knew we spoke the same language.”

Transcript via FTW USA TODAY

"I think I can remember the first time we had our first fight…" – @kobebryant #PlayersOnly pic.twitter.com/IOS6FTjREt

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 18, 2018