Even towards the end of Shaquille O’Neal‘s tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers, they were still unbelievably dominant on the court together despite the feud.
By their 2002 NBA Finals appearance against the New Jersey Nets, they had the formula for how to win perfected.
Despite a difficult Western Conference Finals against the Sacramento Kings, the Lakers swept their first round opponent and took out the San Antonio Spurs in five games. And somehow, their 2002 NBA Finals matchup against the Nets was likely the easiest one of their whole playoff run.