“I couldn’t punk Allen Iverson”: Shaquille O’Neal Could Never Forget How AI Stopped Him & Kobe Bryant From Becoming Lakers GOAT

Allen Iverson was a once-in-a-generation talent who came into the NBA like a storm, shook the league and the legends of the game inside out, and faded off slowly for being the way he was—raw.

The 6’0 guard was so oozing with greatness since Day 1 in the league that he didn’t even hesitate to make the likes of Michael Jordan his bunny.

It is the reason why despite not winning any championship and reaching the NBA Finals just once in his 15-year career, AI is still one of the greatest to ever do it. And Shaquille O’Neal, whom he faced in that only Finals appearance he made, will tell you why he was as unstoppable as The Diesel himself was.

Also read: “You foul Allen Iverson like that one more time, there will be repercussions”: When “Mad Max” had teammate AI’s back during his MVP season

Shaquille O’Neal thinks Allen Iverson messed up the history of basketball

When Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant went on to win their first championship in 2000, they got hungrier and wanted to prove that they were the best Lakers duo of all time. Especially Shaq, the 7-foot-1 juggernaut wanted the Lakers Nation to forget Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

And for that, the 2000 Finals MVP thought his Lakers would run through every team in West, which they did, and then do the same to whoever reaches the Finals. Allen Iverson stunned them with one of the best individual performances in NBA history.

That’s the reason why Shaq believes AI was a “dawg” and even he “could not punk.”

Also read: 76ers Legend Allen Iverson Did Not Want to be Compared to Al Capone and Was Furious Over NBA’s Dressing Ban  

AI spoilt one was the most amazing Playoffs runs by an NBA team

Not only did Allen Iverson got one of the coldest moments through that game when he crossed over Ty Lue after converting a shot near the Lakers dugout, but he also stole the game under Shaq’s nose with his 48-point (not 51) night.

In those Playoffs, the 11x All-Star averaged 32.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 2.4 steals per game playing over 46 minutes a night.

If he had another superstar with him in that Sixers team, let alone the Lakers’ championship with a clean record, there would have been a three-peat.

Also read Shaquille O’Neal, After Vowing to Never Hurt Dwight Howard Again, Now Questions His Hall of Fame Eligibility

About the author

Akash Murty

An Electrical and Electronics Engineer by degree, Akash Murty is an NBA Editor at The SportsRush. Previously a Software Engineer, Murty couldn’t keep himself away from sports, and his knack for writing and putting his opinion forward brought him to the TSR. A big Soccer enthusiast, his interest in basketball developed late, as he got access to a hoop for the first time at 17. Following this, he started watching basketball at the 2012 Olympics, which transitioned to NBA, and he became a fan of the game as he watched LeBron James dominate the league. Him being an avid learner of the game and ritually following the league for around a decade, he now writes articles ranging from throwbacks, and live game reports, to gossip. LA Lakers are his favourite basketball team, while Chelsea has his heart in football. He also likes travelling, reading fiction, and sometimes cooking.

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