Kobe Bryant jokes Shaq will be presenter at jersey retirement ceremony

Every now and then, Kobe Bryant likes to reopen old wounds and take light digs at Shaquille O’Neal.

So it should hardly be surprising who Bryant quickly came up with on who will accompany him whenever the Lakers ultimately retire his jersey.

“I haven’t given it too much thought,” Bryant said. “But brainstormer right now, I’d probably force Shaq to do it.”

Such an issue came up because the Lakers honored Jamaal Wilkes at halftime for becoming the eighth Laker to have his jersey retired and hanging on the Staples Center rafters.

Bryant’s answer instantly elicited laughs considering the contentious relationship they had despite winning three NBA championships together. As Bryant said those words, he let out a smug grin. That widened even more when I suggested tongue in cheek that it’d be a no brainer that Shaq would agree to such a proposal.

Perhaps Bryant, himself, could accompany Shaq when he gets his Lakers jersey retired this season on April 2, 2013.

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