"Kobe Bryant was alien-like": Shaquille O'Neal gives an insight into Black Mamba's mindset

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal calls Kobe Bryant’s mentality alien and addresses Black Mamba’s obsession with being the best.

One of the greatest duos to ever play the game, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant dominated the league during their era with the LA Lakers. In their 8 years together, the two legends made 4 trips to the Finals, which included 3 mobs. Both Shaq and Kobe complemented each other perfectly.

However, the two MVPs have had their ups and downs on multiple occasions, not hesitating to clash during practices or in the locker room. Both Shaq and Kobe were highly competitive, strong-willed individuals. The two Hall of Famers would never budge from their stances.

However, both Diesel and Black Mamba shared a great deal of mutual respect. Having been through so many ups and downs, both Shaq and Kobe knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses well. The Big Diesel witnessed the Mamba Mentality firsthand.

Also read: Shaquille O’Neal, who charged $100 million to leave Kobe Bryant, received a cruel roast in his WWE appearance

During a recent conversation with businessman Patrick-Bet David, Shaq provided insight into the mindset of the late Kobe Bryant, calling him from another planet.

Shaquille O’Neal addresses Kobe Bryant’s work ethic.

We’ve all heard stories about the Lakers shooting guard taking 2,000 shots over the summers, trying to develop his jump shot. He would be the first to arrive at the gym and the last to leave. Such was his dedication to the game of basketball. The eighteen-time All-Star was a different beast on the court.

There’s no one better than Shaq to shed light on his former teammate’s ‘Mamba Mentality’. Recently, while appearing on the PBD podcast, Diesel was asked to give his thoughts on Kobe’s mentality, to which he responded with the following.

“He was like an alien,” the former seven-foot center replied.

“When I was 18, I used to be in the dressing room dribbling and shooting without the ball for hours.

And then you see him practice the same move on the court. As if he was obsessed with being the best of all. I was obsessed with being the most dominant, he was obsessed with being the best of all and sometimes you sacrifice a lot of things, and he did. All he did was exercise.”