Shaquille O’Neal was one of the most imposing big men in NBA history. With his muscular physique and 7-foot-1 frame, opponents regularly trembled at seeing the “Diesel” careening towards the rim, deadset on throwing down a ferocious slam dunk. However, there were times O’Neal was scared on the court, too.
During the 2006 NBA Finals, Shaq, Dwyane Wade, and the Miami Heat were taking on the Dallas Mavericks. The Heat were already down 2-0 in the best-of-seven showdown and faced a 93-88 deficit with under two minutes to go. O’Neal had attempted a baseline slam but got clipped on the arm by Mavs guard Jerry Stackhouse, sending him to the line for two free throws to bring the Heat closer. According to the “Diesel,” that moment was the scariest of his entire life.
Free throws were always Shaq’s “kryptonite”
For all the things Shaq could do on the hardcourt, free throws were always one glaring weakness in his game. Throughout his career, O’Neal was known for being an incredible force in the paint and a dominant post player, but he struggled at the charity stripe.
The legendary big man shot 52 percent from the line for his career, and in that particular series, he was atrocious, making only 37 percent of his free throw attempts. At that moment, with all eyes on him and the game hanging in the balance, Shaq was petrified…