Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal - Inside the NBA's most dynamic/dysfunctional duo's feud

#5 The lost season

This could have been a dream team if it happened a few years ago

While the Detroit Pistons are credited with stopping the juggernaut that the Lakers of the '00s were, the divorce between Kobe and Shaq was festering for a very long time.

The 2003-04 season saw the Lakers retool with the addition of Karl Malone and Gary Payton, two Hall of Fame players who signed for low amounts, to win a ring. The season also came under the microscope when Kobe Bryant was confronted with allegations of rape, and he had to fly to and fro many times in the season to take part in the legal proceedings.

Shaq again took credit for the two additions, saying that they came to the Lakers for one player, not two. He again threw barbs towards Kobe, insinuating that he needed to focus on distributing the ball as he's recovering from a knee surgery. When the team were without Kobe during a training camp, Shaq stated that the "full team is here".

In the pre-season, Shaq dunked the ball and yelled "Pay me!" to Dr. Buss, in a clear sign of disrespect towards the legend. He later claimed that he made a mistake in trying to negotiate from what he thought was a position of power. But his questionable fitness and advancing age did not paint him as a bright investment for the future.

The Lakers tumbled to the NBA Finals only to lose in just five games to the Detroit Pistons. It didn't help that Karl Malone suffered a knee injury when the Lakers started the season 20-5. He aggravated it in the playoffs again and missed what turned out to be the final game of the NBA Finals against Detroit.

This marked the end of an era for the Lakers, as Phil Jackson was let go and Shaq was traded to the Miami Heat.

In the off-season, Kobe Bryant leaned towards heading to the Los Angles Clippers before changing his mind and staying with the Lakers. And this marked the end of what could have been the greatest duo of all time.