NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has played for six franchises during his legendary NBA career that spanned 20 years.The Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal has been one of the most successful basketball players ever to play the game. He broke several records and earned numerous accolades cementing himself as one of the game’s legends. O’Neal has gotten his own documentary movie and Robert Alexander is the director of the four-part docuseries which is titled SHAQ. Ahead of Shaq’s premiere, The Ringer talked to O’Neal about Michael Jordan.
Shaq opens up on Michael Jordan
Shaq was pointed out that he had entered a league that was ruled by Michael Jordan and had abundant centers. In the film, Shaq talked about how the best way to show players like Olajuwon, Robinson, and Ewing respect was to show them no respect. But he also said that he felt too in awe of Olajuwon while playing against him in the 1995 NBA Finals. He was asked whether is was different as it was the first time in the Finals.
He answered:
It was my first time in the Finals and he and I had the same agent, so we kind of worked out a little bit. He was just a nice guy, and when I really respect you, I’m never going to talk trash to you or do anything. But I tried talking to him and he didn’t respond, so that kind of let me know that he had me. I knew that if I said something to the Georgetown boys, they’d get pissed. I knew David Robinson would get all military on me.
With Hakeem, I’d elbow him and he’d go, “Nice elbow, brotha.” … But growing up with a drill sergeant, you learn not to make the same mistake twice. That’s why I said to myself, “If I ever get back to the Finals, I don’t give a [mouths the word “f***”] who I’m playing—they gon’ die.” No more nice or respect and all of that. I didn’t follow my own rules, I actually showed him too much respect. He was averaging 31 [points] and I was averaging 28, but we got swept, so he owns the title of “‘He dogged you out.”
