Shaquille O’Neal recently made an intriguing claim on ‘The Big Podcast’ that he’s never been truly dunked on. According to Shaq, there’s a distinct difference between being dunked by and being dunked on. He elaborated:
Shaquille O’Neal: “I’ve been dunked by it thousands of times. You know the dunk by is like if I’m there for a rebound and the ball goes up and I’m not paying attention, the guy like gets it. Dunk on to me is chest to chest. I see you coming, alright, okay, then I challenge you.”
Adam Lefkoe: “This is a pause. What about chest to back?”
Shaquille O’Neal: “No, chest to chest.”
Adam Lefkoe: “But like what if you’re there and then someone comes over you?”
Shaquille O’Neal: “That’s, that’s, yes, I don’t like that. Comes over you.”
Adam Lefkoe: “There was a lot there. There was like four different things.”
Shaquille O’Neal: “And I used to come over a lot of people.”
Shaq says he’s never been dunked on before
“I used to come over a lot of people” 😂
(🎥 @bigpodwithshaq / https://t.co/45G9ZwXZ9C) pic.twitter.com/s1M6lNrAE1
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 3, 2024
Adam Lefkoe, one of the hosts, humorously challenged Shaq’s definition, asking about situations where someone might come over him. Shaq firmly reiterated his stance: “No, chest to chest.” This distinction, according to Shaq, means that while players have gotten past him or dunked in his vicinity, they haven’t directly overpowered him in a face-to-face scenario.
However, there’s one notable exception Shaq himself has acknowledged in the past. On an episode of ‘Open Court’ on NBA TV, Shaq recounted an incident with Derrick Coleman, a formidable player for the New Jersey Nets:
“One time in New Jersey, I’m from Newark, in front of all the fans playing against Derrick Coleman. If you don’t know Derrick Coleman, he’s left-handed, and he’s a beast. Derrick has me on the block.”
“He takes one dribble, two dribbles, drop step and hit me a little elbow and dunked it. I didn’t know he dunked it until I came down and the ball hit me in the face. And when I turned around to him, he did me like that. I looked up and my mom and dad, there were like. I went to the bench with a little tear in my eye.”
This incident is a rare blemish on Shaq’s otherwise dominant career, a career where he prided himself on being an unstoppable force in the paint. The Coleman dunk was a humbling moment, as Shaq vividly recalls the embarrassment, especially in front of his parents. Coleman, known for his power and skill, managed to catch Shaq off guard, delivering a memorable dunk that left a lasting impression on the Hall of Famer.
Shaq’s anecdote emphasizes the respect he holds for Coleman and the unique nature of the dunk. Interestingly, this experience led to Shaq exacting revenge later that season by breaking the backboard in a game against the Nets, a testament to his overwhelming physicality and determination to never be embarrassed again.
In the broader context of Shaq’s career, his claim of rarely being dunked on speaks to his defensive prowess and presence in the paint. Despite the occasional lapse, Shaq’s dominance remains largely unchallenged, and his legacy as one of the most formidable centers in NBA history is secure. His ability to acknowledge moments of humility, like the Coleman dunk, only adds to the richness of his storied career.
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