Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011 at 9:15 am  |  78 responses

Shaq: LeBron James Never Listened to Mike Brown in Cleveland


You’re never going to believe this, but excerpts from Shaquille O’Neal’s new book pack even more titilating stories from his various stops around the NBA. The latest involves head coach Mike Brown and his former superstar forward LeBron James during their Cleveland Cavaliers days. From Hoopsworld: “O’Neal also talks about his experience in Cleveland, when the franchise was desperately trying to keep LeBron James happy. He writes that James received special treatment from Mike Brown, and wonders if Brown will have similar problems with Bryant in Los Angeles: ‘LeBron was a huge star. He was as big as I was in 2000 in L.A. when I was dominating the league. … Our coach, Mike Brown, was a nice guy, but he had to live on edge because nobody was supposed to be confrontational with LeBron. Nobody wanted him to leave Cleveland, so he was allowed to do whatever he wanted to do. I remember one day in a film session LeBron didn’t get back on defense after a missed shot. Mike Brown didn’t say anything about it. He went to the next clip and it was Mo Williams not getting back and Mike was saying, ‘Yo, Mo, we can’t have that. You’ve got to hustle a little more.’ So Delonte West is sitting there and he’s seen enough and he stands up and says, ‘Hold up, now. You can’t be pussyfooting around like that. Everyone has to be accountable for what they do, not just some us.’ Mike Brown said, ‘I know, Delonte. I know.’ Mike knew Delonte was right. … I’m not sure if Kobe is going to listen to Mike Brown. LeBron never really did. Here’s what we do know: Kobe will definitely be in charge.’ O’Neal also looks back on how his lone season with James came to an end, with a disappointing showing against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. He draws comparisons between that series and James’ performance against the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals: ‘There’s no question in Game 5 LeBron was kind of out of it. … I always believed he could turn it on at any moment, but for some reason he didn’t. Not against the Celtics in 2010 and not against the Mavericks in 2011. It was weird. It’s one thing to be a passer, but you are supposed to be the One. I’m watching him play against Dallas, and they’re swinging the ball and they get him a perfect open look – and he’s kicking it to Mario Chalmers. Makes no sense. I told people, ‘It’s like Michael Jordan told me. Before you succeed, you must first fail.’”

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  • http://Slamonline.com rocksinmypants

    I love Kobe. Greatest ever. Shaqs lying. Lebrons the devil. Who’s this Michael Jordan character?

  • http://www.kb24.com The Seed

    Kobe was not getting traded, Jerry West brought him in and he was the future. Shaq underachieved his whole career, writing a tell all boy like a punk femaleboy and trying to come off like a gentlemen at the same time. Shaq needs to shut up and be the big Kevin Hart on TNT, which is becoming more like Saturday Night Live than a basketball TV show. Cwebb getting hosed is wrong and I will catch this wack book on amazon.com for 5 dollars 3 months from now. BOOK IT!!

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    This book is not going to make a mark on anything 20 years from now. That is absurd. And naive

  • http://slamonline.com datkid

    I love how kobe fans call lebron arrogant… I’m a big fan of both guys but still.

  • robb

    Brown probably (and sadly) will fail in LA. Kobe is arrogant, Lebron is an egomaniac, both are incredible players and pretty much uncoachable. Only someone as dumb as Jimmy Buss would give an invisible coach like Mike Brown a shot in LA.

  • jayb

    does not surprise me at all and i am very glad this book is not just a bash kobe book..thank g-d! i am kinda over the “feud” if they cool i am cool..that is more annoying than the drama after the kimmy k divorse…drama..drama, and more drama!

  • Feez22

    … when your offensive gameplan is pass the ball to lebron and get out of the goddamn way well… why the hell should people listen to you? now listen… i think lebron should have listened to mike. Thats his coach and this and that… w/e. However, mike brown’s offensive gameplan was get the ball to lebron, everyone cut and if lebron cant find the open cutter/ open shooter its 1 on 5. That was their gameplan his whole coaching tenure there. I bet lebron realised what i did… mike brown is a fool of a coach offensively. now his defense was pretty good but… his offensive coaching and command for the team were not good. Not to mention he would blow smoke up lebron’s ass all day. This guy was lebron’s main groupie. Lebron’s main b*tch=mike brown. Lets be HONEST. LEBRON WAS THE COACH OF THAT TEAM.

  • Feez22

    & mike brown may fail in L.A. but it will bring kobe what he wanted…a coach that will LET him go 1 on 5 all game. The funny thing about it though is that kobe going 1 on 5 wouldn’t be beneficial to anyone but kobe. lebron’s 1 on 5 play in cleveland created a false all star (mo williams) false hope (2 60+ win seasons, trip to the finals which if flip saunders had a backbone would have never happened) and a false “good team” (there was a stat up before the 2009-2010 season that said a team with no 2nd star with a PER over 16 has never won a championship… realise mo williams and jamison’s PER were below that. he didnt even have a legit 2nd option there. I dunno… that cavs team was just false. Heck… throw in the fact that lebron became a fake in the 2010 playoffs. Mike brown will be kobe’s b*tch but i think this ends like RUDY T’s stint.

  • Feez22

    i know this is off topic but speaking of flip saunders… imo he is one of the biggest TOOLS of a head coach i have ever seen.

  • Justin

    Did The Seed really say that Shaq underachieved his whole career? What a moron

  • sc

    And as long as we’re praising Mike Brown’s defense, let’s not forget he had Mike Malone on the bench, the same guy who ran NO’s most improved defense last season.

  • http://slamonline.com Ugh

    @nbk – That doesn’t even make sense.
    Oh, the internet. How I love you.

  • http://cnnsi.com Da “U”

    A tell all book means you tell all. Why is Shaq only telling other people business? I guess he was Mr. Perfect. Everywhere Shaq went, he had issuses. Orlando, L.A., Miami, etc. I guess he won’t tell us about how he was out there cheating on his wife, but this is a tell all book. Shaq, don’t go away mad, just go away.

  • C’MON MAN

    What’s Shaq really saying that anyone who knows sports especially basketball doesn’t already know? The star players are worth more than the coach. Of course the coaches cater to them. Kobe, Lebron, Dwight, Jordan, and even Big Hypocrite himself. Well in his prime. Shaq is just trying to make some money and break every player’s code in the book seeing as he is retired and does not have to see these guys in the locker room. Shaq is and always was a hated. Don’t let that goofiness fool you. He is a hater. Hates on kobe, lebron, Dwight with that whole “he’s not original with the superman name”. Someone please tell shaq that he didn’t create superman. It’s not his brand and he needs to go sit down stop making cameos in books like Superhead: Confessions of a video Vixen. Isn’t it time for this man to finally go get fitted for that over size “sheriff” uniform he kept talking about while he was playing. Run a lap, Eat a burger….do something except writing books Shaq-fu. That is all.

  • RedRum

    So let me get this straight. Kobe did not listen to Jax, who already had 6 rings with the Bulls. He will listen to Brown, who by what Shaq says was Lebron’s biatch?? Oh dear, this season is going to be really funny for the Lakers

  • ClydeSays

    Shaq just comes off looking like more of an a$$ than he already was. If anything, he’s raising Delonte West’s profile.

  • Rainman

    @ Justin: AS much as i agree Seed is a moron, shaq DID underachieve, he had a chance to be LEGIT the Best Big man EVER. Had he worked to stay in shape, and actually work on his free throws? game over. He just relied on natural talent to get him through, but oh man what a natural talent it was very clearly.

  • adrian

    Kobe has 5 NBA King rings, Shaq has 1 LESS, Lebron “Quing” James has Zero. Can Youuuuuu Dig It

  • Unclelukenc

    LeBron is a choke artist. Kobe can’t win without Shaq. The diesel speaking truth. It’s proven! Look it up!

  • Unclelukenc

    LeBron is a choke artist. Kobe can’t win without Shaq. The diesel speaking truth. It’s proven! Look it up!

  • Yesse

    The Seed, how many centers have averaged 29.7 points per game in the 20th century? Only Shaq. As a matter of fact he is the most achieved center in the 20th century so far and looking at the centers in the league, he will stay number one on that list for many years.

  • http://google D

    Hey Shaq the original super man is Kurt Rambis

  • Yessir

    cool story bro. tell it again!
    there’s no news so someone reading through Shaq’s book decides to pull some quotes? interview the man himself!

  • http://twitter.com/PLYnWINnLAUF cJ

    No one wanted him to leave Cleveland. That makes sense. What doesn’t make sense is Mike Brown didn’t demand respect. Always have the respect of your players, if nothing else. If LeBron wanted to be a diva then they should’ve let him go sooner.
    But you just can’t deny the fact that he’s talented.
    And you guys saying that Kobe is better than Shaq, GAMES GET FIXED!!! The NBA wants higher ratings so they let the star players get to the Finals.
    Kings vs. Lakers
    Heat vs. Bulls
    Lakers vs. Mavs
    I think you can think of at LEAST 3 more off the top of your head. You know, the games that just DO NOT make sense.

  • AQWORD

    Shaq is jealous that CLE cared more about Bron than him. simples like meercats

  • http://minusthebars.blogspot.com don

    Shaq sounds scorned.

  • dj.

    Shaq,
    it seems can’t shut the F up.. He never learned how to play basketball.. still doesnt know what a pick and roll is..abdul rouff knew shaq couldn’t play.. that’s why he didn’t give him the ball at LSU.. shaq was a big punk.. let charles whip his big azz in a game..if i was 7-1 i would have used Shaq up.. he still sucks..lol

  • Joe Black

    Never ceases to amaze, the delusional lunacy these Kobe haters make up. Jackson never had the authority to trade Bryant. He would have been laughed out of town if he ever threatened that.

    Let’s take a look at facts instead. After Ben Wallace and Elden Campbell punked Shaq’s fat lazy azz in ’04; it was Phil and Shaqueenie that got booted, not Kobe. Hate always blinds idiots, try to grasp some reality for a change.

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