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Reading: Dennis Rodman Reveals Why He Has Beef With Shaquille O’Neal: “He Has A Problem With Me Because I’m The Only Guy Who Can Hold Him Down.”
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Home > NBA News & Analysis > Dennis Rodman Reveals Why He Has Beef With Shaquille O’Neal: “He Has A Problem With Me Because I’m The Only Guy Who Can Hold Him Down.”

Dennis Rodman Reveals Why He Has Beef With Shaquille O’Neal: “He Has A Problem With Me Because I’m The Only Guy Who Can Hold Him Down.”

Nico Martinez
Jan 18, 2022
3 Min Read
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Duke Basketball Report

Dennis Rodman was a key player for the 90s Bulls. At the height of his powers, he was among the best bigs in basketball, with a certain level of strength and energy that was absolutely unmatched — especially on the defensive end.

His play is still remembered and cherished by fans today, but that’s not to say that everyone appreciated it at the time.

In fact, according to the 2x All-Star himself, his mastery of defense made him a lot of enemies around the association, including former Lakers big man Shaquille O’Neal.

“Shaq has a problem with me. Because, you know, I’m probably the only guy who could hold him down,” Rodman said. “You know, like just three or four-point five-point stuff. Like gotta add up.”

Alonzo Mourning was another name he mentioned as someone who has a problem with him.

“But Alonzo Mourning just literally personally just hate me. Because, you know, I just get in his head all the time, stuff like that. He’s stronger and stuff like that but I didn’t worry about that.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXOH04PPCg8

Those are big claims by Rodman, but they don’t really hold up. While Dennis is 13-3 against O’Neal (which includes a 4-0 record in the playoffs), Shaq definitely had his way more often than not. Over the 16 games played, Shaq averaged 26.8 points per game while Rodman averaged just 7.5.

Despite the numbers, Rodman did have some dominant stretches against the Diesel. 

Back in 1996, Rodman once held Shaq to 4 points in the second half after he dropped 23 points in the first two quarters. Naturally, the Bulls ended up winning the game in overtime.

Dennis Rodman’s physical and theatrical approach to defense, which helped take Shaquille O’Neal out of last spring’s Eastern Conference Finals, frustrated the All-Star center again Tuesday when Rodman’s Chicago Bulls rallied for a 129-123 overtime victory over O’Neal’s Lakers.

“Dennis thought he could handle Shaq straight up,” Jackson explained.

Regarding the supposed beef between the two players, nobody really knows how serious it is. While things were no doubt intense between them back in the day, it’s been years since we’ve seen any real interaction.

Nevertheless, it’s interesting to look back on their matchups. As two of the best and most memorable bigs in basketball history, it’s no surprise that they remain the subject of conversation years after their retirement.

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TAGGED:Dennis RodmanShaquille O'Neal
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ByNico Martinez
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Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
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