O’Neal Shaquille O’Neal might have been among the best young players when he entered the league and naturally, he was expected to bow down to greats like Michael Jordan. But Shaq did more than that. While going toe-toe with him in the Eastern Conference Finals in 1996, he paid his respects by bestowing a nickname. One that Dwight Howard stole from Shaq and why he hates the NBA champion for it. But before Shaq was Superman, he was Superboy!
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Yes, well, to put things into context, Shaq had been in the league for a few years, he was still in his early 20s. The “young fella” back then was in awe of Jordan. He had even been shaken by the fact that the Bulls legend retired in 1993.
But since his return, Jordan and Shaq had been going to battle frequently. And this time, they faced off for the pinnacle of the East. The Eastern Conference Finals were in progress and Sports Illustrated reached out to O’Neal for a quote. And of course, the 7-foot-1-inch tall man with the 1000-watt smile had something to say.
Shaquille O’Neal once gave Michael Jordan his favorite nickname
Speaking to Sports Illustrated during the heat of the ECF against the Chicago Bulls, Shaquille O’Neal had this to say, “He’s Superman, I’m Superboy,”. He wasn’t worried about facing Michael, in fact, he was rejoicing it. O’Neal was basking upon the fact that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
He spoke of MJ with a great deal of respect. Shaq even recalled the time he got an autograph from the Bulls legend, “Michael came in the locker room and gave me an autograph without me even asking, he said if I went there, he’d play some games with me during the summer and dunk over me.”.
The incident was from when Shaq was a 17-year-old and was visiting UNC for a recruiting trip. Jordan was doing his best to charm him. But Shaq was already mesmerized. Years later he gave MJ the very nickname that came to define him for his career.
A nickname that he holds very personally. Till now, he has given it to only one player. And hates the other who stole it from him!
Shaq’s vehement dislike for Dwight Howard stems from the latter stealing “Superman”
Shaq thinks that the name Superman should only be taken up by those that can dominate the game in the ways he did. Through the paint, bullying the opposition, and winning titles.
O’Neal was Superman during his reign. He was unstoppable. And not a player like him has emerged ever since. But a few have tried to take his nickname. One stole it and Shaq hates him for it.
Dwight Howard, a 3-time defensive player of the year and NBA champion took the nickname without taking Shaq’s blessings. Of course, this irked the “big fella”.
He routinely takes to Twitter and Instagram to bash Howard for playing in Taiwan. Because for Shaq, only MJ was the one he truly called Superman. Not Howard.
