February 20th 2024.
Shaquille O'Neal, a legendary NBA player, was known for his massive 7'1" frame and 325-pound stature during his time in the league. His size alone was enough to intimidate opposing players, especially during his prime. However, Shaq recently revealed that there was one player who was not fazed by his intimidating tactics – San Antonio Spurs' own Tim Duncan.
On his latest episode of "The Big Podcast," Shaq shared with Philadelphia Eagles' Jason Kelce that he would purposely stare down his opponents as a way to let them know that defending him would not be an easy task. According to Shaq, making eye contact with his opponents allowed him to gauge if they would back down or not. "If I look at you and you put your head down, I got you," he said. "First play of the game, I'm trying to get an offensive foul...so now you know I'm not playing. I'm coming to kill you."
Kelce then asked if there was anyone who showed no fear when Shaq used this intimidation technique. Without hesitation, Shaq responded, "Tim Duncan." He went on to recount a specific game where he was bouncing and getting hyped up, but when he looked at Duncan, he saw no fear in his eyes. "I was like s**t," Shaq admitted.
Duncan, a five-time NBA champion with the Spurs, was also known for his size and strength on the court. Standing at 6'11" and weighing in at 250 pounds, he may not have been as big as Shaq, but he was no small opponent. Yet, he showed no hesitation in going up against the behemoth during their playing days.
It's no surprise that these two legends had a mutual respect for each other, as they were both dominant forces in the NBA. In fact, their respect for one another was further solidified when the Orlando Magic retired Shaq's jersey number 32 in honor of his contributions to the team. And even though they may have been opponents on the court, it's clear that Shaq and Duncan shared a bond of mutual admiration and respect.
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