Shaquille O'Neal: "Ego" Ended My Relationship with Penny Hardaway

When Shaquille O'Neal played basketball for the Orlando Magic, he was thrilled to have Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway as his "sidekick." With Penny's flawless passes and Shaq's domination in the paint, the two were a dream team. So, when Penny's contract was up after four years, Shaq says, he fully supported his teammate in holding out for more money. Soon after, though, the tables turned.

Shaq says that when it was his turn to renegotiate his contract, he didn't get the same support from Penny, whom management began treating as the Magic's new leader. That was the beginning of the end for Shaq and Penny's partnership.

"I kind of hate that it ended the way it did," Shaq says. "It's just an ego thing."

Watch as Shaq explains how the lack of communication between him and Penny led to their fallout.

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