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Shaquille O'Neal reportedly threatened to murder Kobe Bryant when they were team-mates, but that doesn't mean the big man doesn't respect Bryant's game.
O'Neal has moved to downplay reports he threatened to 'murder' Bryant - and in fact said he would take his former Los Angeles Lakers team-mate in his prime over LeBron James.
James is set to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers in their NBA Finals series against the Golden State Warriors, with game one starting on Thursday.
Bill Laimbeer recently said he'd take James over Michael Jordan in his prime.
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"There's probably a little bias in his [Laimbeer's] statement, but I would have to go with Mike," O'Neal said on the Dan Patrick Show on Monday, when picking between Jordan and James.
"Mike is a guy similar to Kobe, he has the drive and the initiative to get it done. You know you need a guy like him so when he gets doubled, the others will step up for him and add to his greatness."
After O'Neal mentioned Bryant, Patrick asked the long-time NBA centre who he would rather have in his prime - James or Bryant?
"I played with both of them. And Kobe has that killer instinct. I'd probably have to go with Kobe," four-time NBA champion O'Neal said.
"That's not a knock against LeBron, just that I know Kobe and I played with him longer. I've seen what he can do."
Patrick asked him if that means James doesn't have a killer instinct.
"Yes he does [have killer instinct], but a lot of people try to compare him to Mike, when he's more like Magic [Johnson]," O'Neal continued.
"When he needs to take over a game he will. But, he's really, really smart. Very intelligent. He lets the game come to him and he relies on others.
"Magic relied on others, and it worked out well for him. LeBron has relied on others these past five years and it's worked out well for him."
O'Neal downplayed recent reports suggesting he threatened to 'murder' Bryant when they were Lakers team-mates.
"I never said I was going to murder you. Did I say I was going to kill you a few times? Yeah," he said.
Patrick asked O'Neal if he and Bryant ever clashed physically and Shaq responded: "Nah, not really. Not really."