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  • Three Ring Circus

  • Kobe, Shaq, Phil and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty
  • Written by: Jeff Pearlman
  • Narrated by: Brian Hutchison
  • Length: 16 hrs and 6 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (27 ratings)

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Three Ring Circus cover art

Three Ring Circus

Written by: Jeff Pearlman
Narrated by: Brian Hutchison
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Publisher's Summary

The story of the Lakers dynasty from 1996 through 2004, when Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal combined - and collided - to help bring the Lakers three straight championships and restore the franchise as a powerhouse.

In the history of modern sport, there have never been two high-level teammates who loathed each other the way Shaquille O’Neal loathed Kobe Bryant and Kobe Bryant loathed Shaquille O’Neal. From public sniping and sparring, to physical altercations and the repeated threats of trade, it was warfare. And yet, despite eight years of infighting and hostility, by turns mediated and encouraged by coach Phil Jackson, the Shaq-Kobe duo resulted in one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history. Together, the two led the Lakers to three straight championships and returned glory and excitement to Los Angeles.

In the tradition of Jeff Pearlman’s best sellers Showtime, Boys Will Be Boys, and The Bad Guys Won, Three-Ring Circus is a rollicking deep dive into one of sports’ most fraught yet successful pairings.

©2020 Jeff Pearlman (P)2020 Recorded Books

What listeners say about Three Ring Circus

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    5 out of 5 stars

A great inside look at the early 2000s Lakers Dyna

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love all the behind the scenes drama and stories. Jeff Pearlman always does a great job finding juicy insider details about his subjects.

The narrator does a fine job, but struggles with the pronunciation of some of the player names, especially the European ones. When he speaks slang or in a black affectation, it is let's say... quite comical.

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Another good Pearlman story.

I enjoy Pearlman’s books. They’re honest and offer a good behind-the-scenes looks at athletes. His books knock athletes of the godlike pedestal we incorrectly raise them to.
Without offering my personal opinion of the subject matter, I’ll say that Pearlman’s research into the lives of Shaq, Kobe and Jackson (along with everyone in their expanded universe) was really in-depth and felt objective in how he laid out the content.
This is my third Pearlman book. They’ve all been enjoyable. Great material for drives to and from work

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Kobe is a POS

Great book. An awesome read. Some of the pronunciation is a bit off. It is funny how anyone can thinkKobe Bryant is the goat after reading this.

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Good book bad pronunciation

book is great and the reader does an alright job, but mispronounced every European or really non-American player's names such as Ginobili and Turkoglu.

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Kobe’s legacy hit with this book

Always been a fan of Jeff Pearlman. Loved all of his books to date.
This book was very enjoyable.
Boy oh boy - Kobe Bryant does not come across very well in this novel. And very flatly saying that he did rape that woman in 2003 with plenty of back up and proof - is something many did not want to hear, especially months after his death. But Pearlman stuck to his reporting and told the story he intended.

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