Los Angeles’ most popular basketball team won 130-119 against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night, but that wasn’t the biggest thing going on at the Staples Center.

Last night marked a reunion of the two most dominant personalities in recent Lakers history as Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal shared a stage for one more night. The two haven’t been around each other in public since last seasons’ final game.

That night was a huge event to say goodbye to Kobe as he played his final game for the franchise in front of a sold out crowd and led the LakeShow to victory while dropping 60 points in his send-off.

It was a picture perfect moment and so was Friday’s unveiling of O’Neal’s statue outside of the arena. He is now frozen forever hanging off a rim on the venue in his signature “Dunkman” pose.

Inside, the Lakers brass of past and present shared stories about the times when the franchise was chasing championships with the two men on stage. Jeanie Buss and Phil Jackson both fondly recalled the larger than life center’s career.

But, the most weighty moments were those with Bryant remembering his running mate. He made certain that Shaq would understand that their accomplishments stand unchecked since their playing days.

Kobe said: “It means a lot. Definitely couldn’t have done it without him. We will always go down in history as the most enigmatic, controversial, dominant one-two punch ever created. I think it would be more of a better story if we didn’t win any championships.

“We won three out of four [NBA Finals]. It was excellent. Something I live with every day. I’m glad it happened the way it did because all we did was just push each other.”

The Laker legend is absolutely right when he talks about their run at the top of the league. Superman was literally without peer in the NBA and a younger version of number 24 stalked the lanes with jaw-dropping athleticism.

San Antonio, Phoenix, Sacramento and a host of other challengers fell before the Purple and Gold. While the two were together, things were always sunny in southern California.

Now, a living testament to their dominance lives on in the center of Los Angeles. Another moment to remember this run will come when it is time for the Black Mamba’s statue to go up in a few years.

It has been a turbulent season in Laker-land, but in moments like this everything is absolutely fine. When Bryant and O’Neal shared the floor years ago, that was usually the case.