Since the untimely passing of Kobe Bryant, many NBA players have shared their love and appreciation for the legendary basketball player.
Now, former Los Angeles Lakers Isaiah Rider is sharing a funny story from the first week he joined the team.
It’s no secret that back in the day, Shaquille O’ Neal and Bryant had their differences to put it lightly. However, the two had made up over the course of time.
In a recent interview with Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes on their “All The Smoke” podcast, Rider revealed that O’Neal offered him a large amount of cash to ignite a beef with Bryant the moment he joined the team.
“When I first get to the Lakers, Shaq tells me, if you and Kobe get into it, it’s 10 G’s in the locker,” Rider explained. “This is 3 days into practice.”
While Rider assumed O’Neal was kidding, he wasn’t and was willing to give him the entire amount of cash in one-dollar bills.
“There’s 10 G’s in one-dollar bills, if you ever get into it and you handle your business, grab that,” Rider continued. “I couldn’t believe it, I’m like ‘Man, these boys are crazy, bro.’”
One thing’s for sure, Rider knew that had he done such a thing, he and the Lakers would be no more, as he would have been immediately fired from the organization.
“But this is my thing is, I would’ve been off that team so fast if I laid a hand on that man,” he added.
