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Back to the Future: The 2003-04 NBA

By Trey Flynn

MINNEAPOLIS - MAY 23: Head coach Flip Saunders of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on in Game Two of the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2004 NBA Playoffs at Target Center on May 23, 2004 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves won 89-71. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2004 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS - MAY 23: Head coach Flip Saunders of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on in Game Two of the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2004 NBA Playoffs at Target Center on May 23, 2004 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves won 89-71. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2004 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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AUBURN HILLS, MI – JUNE 15: Ben Wallace
AUBURN HILLS, MI – JUNE 15: Ben Wallace /

The 2003-2004 Los Angeles Lakers may have created the headache that is the 2018 NBA.

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal were ending their dominance together in the 03-04 season. They both convinced two perennial hall of fame players, Karl Malone and Gary Payton, to join the Lakers to try and take down the West and win one last championship before the duo broke apart.

This “big four” tried their best, but unfortunately, Malone and Payton were at the tail-ends of their careers and couldn’t do much to help being eliminated by the Detroit Pistons in the 2004 NBA Finals.

After this disappointing loss, the Lakers broke apart.

Summing up the aftermath: Karl Malone retired, Gary Payton and Shaq left to go join Dwyane Wade in Miami – winning the 2006 NBA Finals, therefore causing the late-success of Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant, and finally the Celtics created their own “big four” of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo, and Kevin Garnett.

The rest is more well-known – LeBron made his infamous ‘decision’ and the Miami Heat would go to four straight NBA Finals with their “big three” and then James created another “big three” in Cleveland during his ‘return’, inadvertently sprouting the addition of Kevin Durant in Golden State.

Shaq and Kobe’s 2003-2004 season may have created the NBA we have today, for better or worse.

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