(Image Source: Hollywire.com)

BY TOM MARTIN

It’s a short jump from six to five, unless you’re LA Lakers star Kobe Bryant. Monday, he finally passed teammate-turned-rival Shaquille O’Neal on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

“Kobe on fire, needing only the first half to pass Shaq. And here comes a record bucket, moving into fifth on the all-time list.”

Since their very public split as teammates on the L.A. Lakers, Kobe and Shaq say they’ve mended fences. But a writer for Pro Basketball Talk says, for Bryant, this milestone matters plenty.

“Make no mistake, Kobe is savoring this — there is still no love lost between him and Shaquille. The feud was real … Remember when Kobe won ring number five [and] he couldn’t wait to remind everyone that [he has] one more than Shaq? He will privately savor this.”

Kobe and Shaq spent eight seasons as teammates -- and some wonder if it could’ve lasted longer. Kobe dispelled the idea Tuesday to ESPN’s Colin Cowherd.

"There's no way we would have lasted (15 years). Absolutely not … There was an interview that I heard Shaq do which he kind of threw down the challenge of me not being able to win without him … I said 'You know what? I can't finish my career with people saying that. There's no way.' "

Never the shy one, Shaq spoke up on Twitter — and offered Kobe his congratulations.

“Congrats to Kobe for being the greatest laker ever thanks for making us the greatest laker one two punch ever and congrats on passin me up 2.”

Shaq — the class act? A blogger for Lakers Nation believes it.

“In the past there has been far too much attention on the difficulties Bryant and O’Neal have had … but it seems that at this moment O’Neal is legitimately proud of Bryant. While I have to feel that no player really enjoys seeing their records broken, it’s nice to see O’Neal take the high road...”

But back to O’Neal’s Tweet — he calls Bryant ‘the best Laker ever.’ Eye On Basketball’s Royce Young says, Shaq could be right.

“Greatest Laker ever? We haven't forgotten Earvin Magic Johnson so quickly, have we? But then again, with Kobe now sitting firmly fifth all-time in scoring with a good chance to climb as high as third along with his five rings, maybe there's a case...”