Three-Ring Circus

The story of the Lakers dynasty from 1996 through 2004, when Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal combined—and collided—to help bring the Lakers three straight championships and restore the franchise as a powerhouse

In the history of modern sport, there have never been two high-level teammates who loathed each other the way Shaquille O’Neal loathed Kobe Bryant, and Kobe Bryant loathed Shaquille O’Neal. From public sniping and sparring, to physical altercations and the repeated threats of trade, it was warfare. And yet, despite eight years of infighting and hostility, by turns mediated and encouraged by coach Phil Jackson, the Shaq-Kobe duo—a storied chapter in pro basketball—resulted in one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history. Together, the two led the Lakers to a three-peat of championships and returned glory and excitement to Los Angeles. 

In the tradition of Jeff Pearlman’s bestsellers Showtime, Boys Will Be Boys, and The Bad Guys Won, Three-Ring Circus, an essential piece of sports history, is a rollicking deep dive into one of sports’ most fraught yet successful pairings. 

How did two teammates who loathed each other build one of the NBA’s greatest dynasties?
The Kobe and Shaq Feud: Go inside the locker room for the public sniping, physical altercations, and constant warfare between two of basketball’s biggest superstars.A Three-Peat of Championships: Relive the on-court brilliance that led the Los Angeles Lakers to three straight NBA titles, even as the team’s foundation threatened to crumble.Phil Jackson's Zen Leadership: Discover how the legendary coach managed, mediated, and sometimes even encouraged the hostility between his two stars to fuel their championship run.Behind-the-Scenes Drama: From trade demands to locker-room battles, this is the unfiltered story of one of the most fraught yet successful pairings in sports.