Bryant scored 35 points on the night as he continued his torrid bucket-getting pace that season, and also notched 10 assists and seven rebounds to flirt with a triple-double that put Rush in the unexpected position to deliver a victory for Los Angeles.

Making Rush’s heroics even more unexpected was that they came on a team with Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and Gary Payton. Even Rush himself admitted after the game that Phil Jackson wasn’t exactly intending to free him for a game-winner following a feed from then-rookie Luke Walton, via ESPN:

“The play was designed for Kobe to create something,” Rush said, “and he got doubled. I’m running around, trying to find an open spot. Luke found me and I took the shot. I’ve knocked down that shot a thousand times in my life, but I haven’t been in that position since college.”

Bryant usually took the last shot, but this time he set up Rush, who was clearly up for the task.

Kareem Rush & other stats

Rush’s game-winning three gave him eight points on 3-for-5 shooting in 15 minutes off the bench. Walton finished with a truly bizarre line of two points, making his only field goal attempt, to go with five rebounds, five assists and four steals.

O’Neal also contributed to the Lakers’ victory, giving them 16 points and eight rebounds while defending the paint for four blocks, while Gary Payton contributed 14 points and eight assists to help key the victory.

Nuggets rookie Carmelo Anthony had one of the first of what would be many scoring duels with Bryant in the loss, dropping 35 points on 14-of-25 shooting to go with four rebounds and a block to surprise the more talented Lakers before ultimately falling in defeat.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

From there on out, they would form a dynamic duo alongside a stellar supporting cast that featured Lamar Odom, Derek Fisher, and Luke Walton. On Feb. 24, 2008, the Lakers played their final game at the KeyArena at Seattle Center, as they faced off against the Seattle SuperSonics.

Gasol not only solidified the Lakers hopes at a championship run, but also provided a jolt of energy to a team that needed it. The Spaniard was the ideal fit to play alongside Bryant, with a basketball IQ and fundamental base that could sync with Jackson’s triangle offense.

This would mark only his ninth game with the Lakers, but Gasol was able to lead the Lakers to a comfortable victory.

The Lakers got out to a 34-18 lead by the end of the first quarter, with their starting lineup of Bryant, Gasol, Fisher, Odom, and Walton. On the other hand, the SuperSonics relied on younger scorers in Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, along with Earl Watson, Johan Petro, and Nick Collison.

Los Angeles came out ready to play against Seattle, in what was a final stop before they returned to Staples Center. The starters led the way for the Lakers, turning into a game that didn’t require a massive takeover from Bryant.

Walton had 11 points, seven rebounds and six assists in what can now be deemed a Lonzo Ball-esque statline. However, it would be Odom and Gasol that would stamp the Lakers victory, as they were able to help the team hold onto their lead.

The Lakers managed to outscore the SuperSonics by seven points over the second and third quarters, taking a 93-70 lead into the fourth. From there, Los Angeles cruised to what would end as a 111-91 victory, improving their record to 39-17.

Gasol finished with 22 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks, while shooting 10-for-18 from the field. Odom also had a strong all-around performance, contributing with 19 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and a steal.

Last game Lakers played in Seattle

A young Durant finished with 15 points on 4-for-13 shooting. The game was the last the Lakers played in Seattle. They finished 128-83 all-time against the SuperSonics franchise.

The 2007-08 season would go on to be the last for the organization, as they were relocated to Oklahoma City. Coming off of a disastrous season in which they finished 20-62 the year prior, P.J. Carlesimo took over as head coach.

Seattle’s front office used their No. 2 pick to draft future superstar Kevin Durant, though he only played one season for the Sonics.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Entering the 2000s, O’Neal soon also found a level of respect for then-head coach Phil Jackson, as they were able to push each other’s buttons in the right ways towards three NBA championships. Although he was never consistently in shape during his career, O’Neal’s status as a physical specimen displayed on constant occasions.

One example came on Feb. 15, 2000, as the soon-to-be MVP pushed his limits in a hard-fought contest. The Lakers traveled to the United Center to face off against the Chicago Bulls, with a crowd of over 23,000 in attendance.

O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, A.C. Green, Glen Rice, and Ron Harper comprised the starting five for Jackson, as he and Harper both made their returns to a franchise they helped raise to championship status.

When it was all said and done, the game would end as a rather low-scoring one, with solid defense and poor shooting from the supporting cast affecting the outcome. Los Angeles got out to a 22-18 lead after the first, with the Bulls bouncing back in the second.

Ron Artest, Toni Kukoc, and Elton Brand were the main scoring options for head coach Tim Floyd, as they outscored the Lakers by seven to take a 49-46 lead into the half.

However, the Bulls had no match for O’Neal, as No. 34 had his way around the rim. Not only was he scoring at will in the paint, but he also owned the glass, finishing the game with 20 rebounds (15 on defense; five on the other side of the floor).

His presence in the paint led to foul trouble, with Kukoc and Brand being left to guard him once Will Purdue fouled out. The Lakers took a one-point lead into the final quarter, where their 1-2 punch would close out the game.

While O’Neal was the clear X-factor, Bryant also contributed 21 points, five rebounds, five assists, five steals and two blocks. The final quarter provided some offensive contrast, with both teams below 60 points through three quarters.

Los Angeles managed to reach 30 in the fourth quarter, creating separation on the way to their 38th victory of the season by ultimately blowing out the Bulls, 88-76.

O’Neal, who played 47 of 48 total minutes, finished with 29 points, 20 rebounds, one assist and two blocked shots. The 15-time All-Star proved to be too much to handle, in what turned out to be an MVP and championship season.

Lakers star Shaquille O’Neal also thrived at free throw line

Not only did he shoot 9-for-16 from the field, but he also shot an unprecedented 11-for-12 from the free-throw line. While the 20-20 performance was impressive, perhaps the more important feat was that O’Neal only sat out one minute the entire game.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

But one Abdul-Jabbar achievement that probably doesn’t get talked about enough was the Hall-of-Famer’s longevity. Abdul-Jabbar played in 1,560 games over his 20-year career, and he accrued an all-time leading 57,446 minutes over that timespan.

Abdul-Jabbar took that lead on Feb. 14, 1986, and never looked back, jumping past Elvin Hayes’ then-NBA record of 50,000 minutes in the Lakers’ 141-117 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Abdul-Jabbar went on to play three more full seasons in which he compiled nearly 8,000 more minutes of action.

His scoring title was often talked about as unreachable until LeBron James passed him, but his minutes title is arguably even more challenging to pass. The next closest in minutes to Abdul-Jabbar is his fellow former Lakers big man Karl Malone, who finished his exceedingly durable career with nearly 3,000 minutes less than Abdul-Jabbar despite only playing in just 84 fewer games.

Other players close to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s minutes total

When account for both regular and postseason minutes, James actually passed Abdul-Jabbar in 2023.

Other than James, Jason Kidd came closest in recent years, but he still only managed 50,110 minutes during 1,391 NBA games, while Hayes (50,000), Kevin Garnett (49,863) and Dirk Nowitzki (50,102) round out the league’s top-six in minutes all-time. Kobe Bryant ranks 11th in league history with 46,774 career minutes.

Given current NBA rest trends in which teams try to save their players from accruing unnecessarily high minutes totals, it seems more and more unlikely by the year that anyone other than James will ever touch Abdul-Jabbar’s record, making it just another outstanding accomplishment for the perpetually underrated Lakers legend.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Bryant and O’Neal would go up against the other elite players in the NBA and put on a competitive show for the fans, alternating locations with each season. On Feb. 13, 2000, the ‘Big Diesel’ put on a spectacular performance in front of the fans at the Oakland Arena.

The 2000 NBA All-Star Game, which was coached by Phil Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy, turned out to be a prime example of the transfer of generations that goes on between different ages of basketball.

The starting lineup for the West featured Bryant, O’Neal, Jason Kidd, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Garnett. At the same time, it seemed like generational greats Karl Malone, David Robinson, Gary Payton and John Stockton would play sparingly off the bench.

On the other hand, the East team was led by starters Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, Alonzo Mourning, Eddie Jones, and Grant Hill.

The Western Conference All-Stars had a 64-59 lead at halftime, thanks in part to spectacular play from their frontcourt. A three-man crew of O’Neal, Duncan and Garnett presented quite the challenge for Mourning, Hill, and Jones.

The pace and shots made went up as the pressure increased during the second half. After outscoring the West by three points, the East was able to shrink their deficit down to two going into the fourth quarter. Iverson, who would finish with 26 points and nine assists, turned out to be the catalyst for their comeback efforts.

O’Neal did his fair share to enlighten the crowd, including a full-court dribble that ended in a semi euro-step finger-roll. He was also able to throw down his typical ferocious dunks, hammers that Mourning and Mutombo were on the receiving end of. When the game was all over, Duncan, Garnett, and O’Neal combined for 70 points and 33 rebounds.

In a game that featured many poster dunks and shot blockers waiting at the rim, the fans watching around the world sure did get their money’s worth. Kidd, who finished with 14 assists, threw a series of lobs to Bryant and O’Neal during their breakaway possessions.

The East put together many runs during the fourth quarter, but the West was able to hold off for the 137-126 victory. Former NBA commissioner David Stern presented the All-Star Game MVP to both O’Neal and Duncan, a pair of big men who would finish their careers with a combined nine rings.

Shaquille O’Neal & Tim Duncan stats

O’Neal put up 22 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Duncan concluded the game with 24 points, 14 rebounds and four assists.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!