We never thought it would really happen: Los Angeles Lakers Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant functioning as equal partners.

Proof positive existed in Thursday's NBA statistics ... right down to the decimal point.

There they were, Nos. 3 and 3a on the league's scoring list, each averaging 26.1 points. Shaq's name came first (some age-before-beauty rule, perhaps?), but the big guy asserts these days that Kobe is the Lakers' greater star.

That's maturity speaking, which was once the missing ingredient. Shaq always was and continues to be the NBA's premier talent. Once he grew secure in that fact, and shared the spotlight with Kobe, everything clicked.

The tug-of-war for control of this team is over as the Lakers arrive in Charlotte, for perhaps their last visit to the Queen City. They've learned to stop worrying whether it's Shaq-and-Kobe or Kobe-and-Shaq.

If they collaborate, they win, just as Kareem-and-Magic or Bird-and-McHale did. It takes at least two stars to build a dynasty in the NBA, and these two already have two championships. That's one-third of what Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen accomplished in Chicago, but these two are young enough to keep rolling for another decade, if they want.

They are the ideal basketball pairing: A center who is a load for anyone to guard, and a guard with the creativity to unravel the stitches of any defense.

Orlando Magic coach Doc Rivers described Shaq best: He's a giant and everyone else in the NBA is an ant. So you decide whether to guard him with a big ant or a small ant, and in the end it makes no difference.

Trouble is, the giant can't make free throws, so he needs help at the end of a close game. And that's Bryant's specialty.

Sports Illustrated recently polled NBA executives on whom they would trust most with the ball, down two points with five seconds left. Bryant won easily, doubling the votes for second-place Jordan.

Best of all, Bryant is starting to appreciate that an assist is as valuable as a basket. He recently assembled his third triple-double (23 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds against Jordan's Washington Wizards.) That prompted teammate Rick Fox to tell the Orange County (Calif.) Register, "It's just a matter of him becoming infatuated with that statistic, like a Jason Kidd."

Injury and boredom are the only things that can stop these guys, and both have been factors lately.

After winning 16 of their first 17, the Lakers are a mediocre 20-15 entering tonight's game. They recently suffered their first three-game losing streak in the 253 games Phil Jackson has coached this team.

The obvious problem is the arthritic big toe on Shaq's right foot. If you've played basketball at any level, you know the beating toes take through the constant up-and-down motion. Now multiply that punishment by the 325 pounds crushing down on Shaq's tootsies daily.

The subtler problem is the complacency two seasons of greatness conveys. Over the past five weeks, the Lakers have lost home games to Chicago, Memphis and Atlanta. You could combine those three teams' victories at the end of this season, and barely make the playoffs.

Those losses are explainable, if not excusable. How excited can the Lakers get about a Monday in January against the Grizzlies?

Shaq is so desperate for motivation that he fabricated a slight during All-Star Weekend, claiming other players got all the hype.

"There was a lot of disrespect going on," Shaq fibbed, "acting like certain people weren't there."

Pu-leeze. Shaq, if you need a compliment that badly, here's one: I'll take the Lakers, and anyone who wants to bet me can have the field.

Just remember your checkbook come June. I spell my name with two "ls."
SCOUTING REPORT

? The Lakers will be playing their second of five games on the road after starting Thursday at Cleveland. They left home on a surprising note, losing 109-108 to Boston at the Staples Center on Tuesday.

? Center Shaquille O'Neal played Tuesday for the first time since Feb. 3 and had an immediate impact. He hit 9-of-10 shots and scored 27, with 17 rebounds. He had been out with an arthritic big toe.

? The Hornets came out of the All-Star break on a hot streak, winning four of five, most recently Wednesday at Toronto. They are still struggling at home, where they have an 11-15 record and fell to lowly Memphis Sunday.