"I just seen this little kid like put his head down" - Shaquille O'Neal on the very first time he met Kobe Bryant originally appeared on Basketball Network.

After a disappointing season with the Houston Rockets in 1999, Scottie Pippen attempted to join the Los Angeles Lakers to reunite with coach Phil Jackson and team up with Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.

Bryant ranks fourth in all-time NBA scoring (33,643 points) and his “ Mamba Mentality ” work ethic is still cited as a major influence on current athletes. He spent the first eight years of his career as Lakers teammates with O’Neal, with L.A. winning three NBA titles during that span.