OK Sets Sail: Shaq and the Lakers’ New Dynasty

In 1996 Shaquille O’Neal left Orlando for LA, with rookie Kobe on board. But the team truly formed when Phil Jackson arrived in 1999, bringing the "triangle offense" that won six titles in Chicago.

The triangle’s core is spacing and reading: Shaq drew doubles in the post while perimeter players passed into open looks. Kobe and Glen Rice each fit. In 1999-00 the Lakers won 67 games and rolled through the playoffs to beat Indiana.

The 2000 title was the first cornerstone of LA’s new-century dynasty. They repeated the next two years for a three-peat; Shaq took three straight FMVPs as the league’s top center.

A dynasty is born of a great coach, a system, and an unstoppable big. The Lakers’ 2000 had all three.

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