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Late NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain once spoke about Shaquille O’Neal’s dominance, leaving the basketball community in awe.
Late NBA star Wilt Chamberlain famously offered a daring prediction about Shaquille O’Neal facing him in a 1v1 contest. Shaquille O’Neal is now recognized as the wealthy version of the adorable teddy bear from “Inside the NBA.” But when in his prime, the man was essentially the NBA’s biggest, deadliest bully.
The Diesel was extremely muscular for his height of 7’1″, yet he was still surprisingly athletic. The ultimate NBA body type for the 1990s seems to have been created by god himself, virtually. The late great Wilt Chamberlain ranked higher than O’Neal in the debate for the GOAT, but he wasn’t all that horrible himself. So, if we’re being completely honest, Wilt was unquestionably the superior big man when everything was said and done.
There weren’t many people, if any, who could match Shaq in his heyday in terms of tenacity. Therefore, it stands to reason that strength shouldn’t be his undoing… right? Wilt Chamberlain obviously had a totally different opinion when asked who would win between the two of them.
When compared to a young Shaq who was playing in the league at the time but hadn’t yet won a championship, Chamberlain was once asked about the parallels. Wilt praised Shaq’s power and noted that O’Neal played differently from him. He continued, though, by saying that Shaq would have a hard time adjusting to the 1960s centers’ aggressiveness.
“He engages in a completely distinct brand of basketball. He is a huge, robust young man who makes use of his physicality. That plays nicely in the game of today. If I and other guys from my era were his opponents? Not good at all. My bench press ranged between 600 and 700 pounds ” he explained.
The sport featured several amazing centers in the 1960s. Bill Russell, who excelled with the Boston Celtics as a player and coach, headed that period. There were people like Walt Bellamy and Nate Thurmond around Bill.
Given what Shaq accomplished after deciding to gain weight rather than maintain his lean physique, it’s conceivable that he would have excelled in any period in which he played. Shaq’s athletic force caused the NBA to amend a number of regulations. As there is truly no alternative to inherent talent, athleticism is the one quality that endures throughout all eras.
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