"Man I miss young Shaq", "Some people genuinely think Shaq wasn't skilled" - Fans react to Shaquille O'Neal and Michael Jordan playing 1-on-1 in throwback clip from 1996 All-Star game
In his prime, Shaquille O'Neal dominated the league. O'Neal burst onto the scene and was named an All-Star in his rookie season. He was so impressive early in his career that the NBA included him in the 50 greatest players of all time after only four seasons.
Analysts at the time debated his inclusion on the list, especially considering players like Dominique Wilkins were excluded. Wilkins had racked up nine All-Star selections and seven All-NBA selections at the time.
The 50 greatest players were honored at the 1997 NBA All-Star game. A year earlier, O'Neal took on Michael Jordan in a 1-on-1 game, a clip of which recently surfaced online. O'Neal showcased impressive ball-handling skills and agility on many occasions.
Throwback to Mj and Shaq playing 1v1 at the all star game🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/oqCXyZo1N2
Fans on Reddit were quick to react to the clip. Many enjoyed O'Neal using Hakeem Olajuwon's signature Dream Shake.
At 7-foot-1, Shaquille O'Neal's athleticism and ability to move in transition were unparalleled.
Was Shaquille O'Neal's post game inspired by Hakeem Olajuwon?
Hakeem Olajuwon's play transformed how NBA players approach scoring in the paint today. Olajuwon, also known as "The Dream," had a bag of post moves.
Olajuwon won back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995, winning finals MVP in both years. Olajuwon is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and won the 1994 MVP. He accrued 12 All-Star appearances, 12 All-NBA selections and nine All-Defensive selections over his 18-year career.
As the game evolves, each era offers something new. Previous eras had multiple talented bigs like Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, and Tim Duncan, while the modern game has players like Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic, all of whom have different skillsets.