Although both multiple NBA champion and MVP pivots, and Lakers legends at that, Kareem Abdul Jabbar And Shaquille O’Neal don’t know each other that well. We can even say that they were never very close, and we remember this Shaq attack in 2011. ” Kareem was never there. And the few times I saw him, he ignored me. My disappointment is great because during all these years in LA, I tried to follow in his footsteps. I would have liked to discuss with him. »
Since then, through the press, or during NBA events, there have been attempts at rapprochement, but in the end, it was not until the very recent documentary produced by TNT, lasting 25 minutes, that they really discuss it. Clearly, O’Neal would have liked Jabbar to reach out to him, and he had been waiting for this encounter since he was 18!
O’Neal respectful of his elders
“Your dad said we don’t care about the sky hook when you can dunk it all!” », Jabbar reminds the Shaq. “I didn’t know if that was really what you thought, and if you had the same approach. But I was frustrated because I wish I had a closer relationship with you. »
For his part, O’Neal has tried to reconnect. He notably offered a dove of peace, in the form ofan ad from its equipment supplier from then, Reebook, in which we could see the young Magic pivot rubbing shoulders with George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Bill Walton and therefore Jabbar.
“I wanted to do this ad to pay tribute to you. To pay homage to all the great interiors that had paved the way before me. Because I was told all the time that if I did my job, I was going to end up in the same circle. I wanted to let you know I was on my way. »
If, seen from the outside, their relationship is thus in good shape, in terms of mutual respect, Jabbar obviously has trouble with the “show business” turn taken by the young career of his younger brother during his years in Orlando. With several rap albums and a lot of money thanks to sponsors… but above all a scathing sweep against Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets in the 1994 Finals.
“There are some things you didn’t want to do. And during the Finals against Houston, Olajuwon taught you a lesson! », Jabbar swings unflinchingly into his one-on-one with Shaq. “At that time, I thought to myself that it was better for everyone to be very calm after what you had experienced at this level. [de compétition], because you were going to come back stronger, with a spirit of revenge. And that’s exactly what happened because you came back [avec les Lakers] showing everyone what you are capable of. »
Humbled by Olajuwon, the Shaq live up to expectations in LA
On set with his comrades Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith in particular, Shaq had already revealed that he had felt attacked several times by Jabbar when the latter pointed out his shortcomings in the playoffs, his first years in Los Angeles in 1998 in the final of conference (a Jazz sweep) and in 1999 in the conference semi-finals (a Spurs sweep).
“The fact that you didn’t calculate me, that you didn’t talk to me, that motivated me! », claims Shaq in the docu titled “Tough Love.”
In the end, with his Three-Peat and three Finals MVP trophies, Shaq finally lived up to expectations. As a worthy heir to Mikan, Jabbar and Chamberlain under the purple and gold tunic of the Lakers…
“I just wanted to see you play and dominate the competition,” concludes Jabbar. “And when it finally happened, I was smiling in the stands, like all the Lakers fans by my side. It was wonderful to see you finally play at the highest level and dominate the League as we knew you could. I was happy and shut my mouth. »
