Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most dominant forces we have ever seen in the NBA. Standing at 7’1, Shaq was as heavy as 325 pounds during his 19-year stint in the NBA. Additionally, with a 32-inch vertical and quick feet, the big man was a lethal threat inside the paint. In fact, the Lakers legend has broken over 19 rims in his career with his monster dunks, all of which are on display on his “Broken Rim Tree” in one of his gardens back home.
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Therefore, when Shaq gives you a nod for breaking a rim, you know that you have got something special on your plate. Recently Shaq bestowed that honor on LeBron James by sharing a clip of a young LBJ breaking the backboard in a high school gym.
In the clip shared on Instagram by Shaq, LeBron could be seen invading the paint with sinister intentions. Receiving little to no obstruction on the way, the young prodigy went for a big slam and started hanging on to the rim after dunking the ball. However, the entire apparatus soon came down with James as people in the gym watched in surprise.
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A year before LeBron was drafted, he would play in an off-season scrimmage at Stow High School in 2002. During the scrimmage, LeBron shattered the backboard and fell while holding the rim in his hand.
Unfortunately for James, this would result in him missing the upcoming 2002 ABCD Camp due to a wrist injury caused by the incident.
This rather impressive feat by a young James was almost forgotten by fans. But Dr. O’Neal somehow found the footage and took to Instagram to remind us of just how dominant a young King James was.
The big man also showed that he was not the only guy destroying the rims in high school gyms. LeBron was equally culpable.
