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Shaquille O’Neal was a force to be reckoned with in his 19-year NBA career. The four-time champion and three-time Finals MVP dominated the paint with his size, strength and skill. He averaged 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game, earning 15 All-Star selections and one regular season MVP award.
But even Shaq had his limits when it came to trash-talking and challenging his opponents on the court. There was one player he respected and feared so much that he didn’t dare to mess with him: Michael Jordan.
The six-time champion and five-time MVP was the ultimate competitor and the greatest player of all time, according to many fans and analysts. Jordan had a killer instinct and a flair for the dramatic that made him unstoppable in clutch situations.
O’Neal revealed on the “PBD Podcast” last year that Jordan was the only man who had him terrified on the court. He said he admired MJ so much that he didn’t want to mess with him or provoke him. “Michael Jordan. You don’t want to mess with God. You got to stay away from Mike. Leave that man alone,” O’Neal said.
Shaquille O’Neal vs. Michael Jordan: A rivalry for the ages
Michael Jordan, left, and Shaquille O’Neal, right (Via Basketball Network)O’Neal and Jordan faced each other 21 times in their careers, with Jordan’s team winning 12 games and O’Neal’s team winning nine.
The first time they met was on January 16, 1993, when O’Neal was a rookie with the Orlando Magic, and Jordan was in his prime with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan scored a career-high 64 points in that game, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Magic from winning 128-124 in overtime. O’Neal had 29 points, 24 rebounds and five blocks in his first encounter with ‘His Airness.’
O’Neal later joked that Jordan was lucky he wasn’t guarding him that night. But he also admitted on the “PBD Podcast” that he was amazed by Jordan’s performance and speed. “He came by me so fast sometimes I was like oh s***,” O’Neal said.
O’Neal and Jordan are both considered among the greatest players of all time, and they have mutual respect for each other. They also share a friendship off the court. They have also appeared together on several occasions, such as NBA All-Star games, award shows and TV shows.
