Los Angeles Lakers: Imagining a Kyrie Irving and LeBron James reunion

The Shaq and Kobe parallel

LeBron James and Kyrie Irving share a very unique history. It isn’t very common for two star players to reach the NBA Finals multiple times and win a championship together, only to split up while still in their primes. In fact, the only other instance I can recall of this happening would be when Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant split.

O’Neal and Bryant experienced a great amount of success together. In their eight seasons playing alongside each other, this duo reached the NBA Finals four times and won three consecutive championships.

However, constant feuds between Bryant and O’Neal would ultimately damage their relationship to a point of no return. By the 2004-05 season, Shaq had been traded to the Miami Heat and the greatest one-two punch in NBA history was officially over.

Similarly, James and Irving reached the NBA Finals three times together and won a title in the 2015-16 season. Despite still being in a position to win a ring, Irving grew frustrated with his role as the sidekick and requested to be traded. Shortly after his request, Irving was shipped to the Boston Celtics.

While Kobe and Shaq have both expressed regret for letting their egos get in between their chances at winning more trophies, it is possible that Irving is also realizing he made a mistake leaving James.

As Bryant was one of Irving’s idols growing up, maybe Kyrie will make the decision to reunite with James before it is too late. Watching James and Irving overcome their problems in the same jerseys that Shaq and Kobe once wore would be a great sight to see.