Breaking backboards was a staple for Shaquille O’Neal in the early days of his career before the backboard-makers had to modify their products. One of the more popular clips of Shaq breaking the glass came from his 1992 1-v-1 contest against sportscaster Ahmad Rashad. The NBA recently posted a rewind video on YouTube where Shaq can be seen revealing the real reason why he ‘quit’ the game after breaking the backboard, during a sit-down with Rashad.
Advertisement
Ahmad Rashad was a wide receiver in the NFL before starting his career in Sports journalism. The then 42-year-old decided to take a rookie Shaquille O’Neal to school before his Draft in 1992 to show him what awaits him in the NBA. What transpired next is still one of the more memorable moments in Shaq’s early career.
Shaquille O’Neal reveals why he quit his 1v1 contest against Ahmad Rashad
During a recent sit-down with Shaq, Ahmad Rashad told the big man that he beat him 1v1 before his NBA career even started. In response, the Diesel clarified that the matchup ended in a draw. Subsequently, Rashad rolled the clip of the famous contest.
Rashad could be seen trash-talking a rookie O’Neal before scoring a mid-range jumper on him. However, the big man soon retaliated with a slam dunk that broke the glass backboard into pieces. As Shaq lay on the floor covered in glass shrapnel, Rashad approached him and hilariously said, “Hold on, Is that all you got!”
Both men laughed at the interaction from decades ago. Afterwards, Shaq clarified why he couldn’t finish the game with Rashad, “No, I didn’t quit. Management didn’t want me to play…Cause Leonard [Armato] didn’t want me to play, my management didn’t want me to play, and Sports Club LA didn’t want a lawsuit on their hands.”
Rashad laughed at Shaq’s explanation, confirming that he knew they were in trouble when he saw Armato(Shaq’s agent at the time) faint. The rookie sensation had landed on his back after breaking the backboard, which could have proven to be dangerous if Shaq didn’t nail the landing. Therefore, his people were obviously scared straight with the Draft Day yet to come.
Shaq’s dominance early on in his career
Breaking backboards was just one part of Shaq’s dominance on the hardwood. His 1v1 with Rashad was a clear indication of what awaited the NBA after the 7’1 giant’s entry into the league.
Shaq decimated opposition defenders in the paint for the Orlando Magic right from his rookie year, leading the brand new franchise to the NBA Finals in only his third year in the league. The big fella’s four years in Orlando would earn him a staggering seven-year $120 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996, an unprecedented amount for any NBA player to receive at the time.
