Shaq OK with Kobe Bryant ahead in NBA scoring

NEW YORK (AP) — Shaquille O’Neal has no problem with former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant passing him on the NBA career scoring list.

Bryant surpassed O’Neal and moved into fifth place among NBA scorers in Monday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.

The retired O’Neal says he was never concerned with being the “best” Laker, only the most dominant on the court. He says, “I was that.”

Bryant and O’Neal played together for eight seasons and won three NBA championships. Bryant has 28,601 points and trails Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.

O’Neal says playing with Bryant made up “the best eight years of my life,” contrary to their often fiery relationship as teammates.

Later this month, O’Neal will host the second annual Hall of Game Awards. The program airs Feb. 20 on Cartoon Network.