Shaquille O'Neal used to like Kobe Bryant.
He called him the world's best player here in 2000, and it was entirely sincere.
Bryant's most recent stop on his goodbye tour was where he came of age in the NBA Finals. He remembered it fondly Monday before the Lakers lost to the Indiana Pacers, 89-87.
"It was where the run started," Bryant said of the Lakers' three consecutive championships.
O'Neal fouled out in Game 4 after a 36-point, 21-rebound effort and Bryant took it from there despite a sprained ankle, helping the Lakers beat the Pacers for a 3-1 series lead.