Ten Years Ago Kobe and Shaq's Feud Came to a Head on Christmas

Christmas Day games always amplify the magnitude of reunions. In a sense, the holiday itself is about homecomings, and the NBA has played up that angle with inflammatory scheduling (hi, Cavs/Heat.) There was an overwhelming layer of tension added to the 2004 contest between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat, as it marked Shaquille O?Neal?s return to L.A. at the height of his feud with Kobe Bryant. The beef?who needed whom more??bolstered the showdown?s entertainment factor, cementing it as one of the best Christmas Day games to date.

told the ESPNfor yearsMalice at the Palace? la Deion Sanders and Andre RisonFollow Julian Kimble on Twitter @JRK316