Leonardo DiCaprio Picks Kobe-Shaq Alley-Oop as Greatest Live Sports Memory
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Academy Award–winning actor and Los Angeles native Leonardo DiCaprio says the most unforgettable sports moment he has ever witnessed in person is the famous alley-oop from Kobe Bryant to Shaquille O’Neal that sealed Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference Finals.
Speaking on the “New Heights” podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce, DiCaprio recalled the play that electrified a sold-out Staples Center on June 4, 2000. “Kobe, Shaq, Trailblazers, the lob. I think that was the Western Conference Finals,” he said. “The whole stadium just shot up into the air. I remember that. That was an incredible moment, man.”
With the Los Angeles Lakers trailing most of the night, Bryant drove past Scottie Pippen and lofted a pass to O’Neal, who slammed it home for a six-point lead with under a minute remaining. Los Angeles held on to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers, clinching the series and eventually claiming the 2000 NBA championship. The lob has since become one of the most replayed highlights in postseason history.
The Bryant-O’Neal partnership powered the Lakers to a three-peat from 2000 to 2002. Although their relationship was often strained, both superstars acknowledged that the competitive tension helped bring out their best on the court.
The iconic play continues to resonate more than two decades later, resurfacing each spring when NBA postseason coverage revisits classic moments. In the same podcast episode, former NBA scoring champion Tracy McGrady reiterated his belief that he would have won titles alongside O’Neal had he taken Bryant’s place in Los Angeles.
Source: LakersNation.com
