“That’s Why Shaquille O’Neal is Playing Golf and I’m in the WCF!”: Greg Ostertag Beat His Chest Before Getting Slapped by Big Diesel

Nithin Joseph | 19/12/2022
"That's Why Shaquille O'Neal is Playing Golf and I'm in the WCF!": Greg Ostertag Beat His Chest Before Getting Slapped by Big Diesel

Shaquille O’Neal is easily one of the most dominant players in NBA history. He was an unstoppable force that took the league by storm.

With a 19-year career in the NBA, Diesel frightened many an opponent. Having averaged 24 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks per game, there were very few centers who could claim they stopped the big man.

However, on rare occasions, some centers were up to the task, like Greg Ostertag, the man who sent Shaq to the golf course while he played in the Western Conference Finals.

Also Read: “You Earn $60,000/Year in the Army?”: Shaquille O’Neal Once Offered His Father $500,000 to Work For Him and Made Him Cry

Greg Ostertag couldn’t stop boasting after defeating Shaquille O’Neal

Shaquille O’Neal wanted to make history in the 1997 NBA Playoffs. Having just signed for the Lakers, the big man was determined to reach the Finals.

However, the Utah Jazz stood in his way. Shaq faced the Jazz in the Western Conference semifinals, where he was defeated after making little to no impact. At the time, he was being guarded by Greg Ostertag, who was so proud of stopping the big man, that he could not contain his boastfulness.

It was humiliating for Shaq, who, as revealed in the book Three-Ring Circus kept replaying Ostertag’s comments in his head.

“Throughout the summer, O’Neal replayed the Utah games in his mind. More than that, he replayed Ostertag’a mannerisms and boastfulness in his mind. When the Jazz won, the center through O’Neal’s prism—behaved like a conquering hero. He was the Shaq slayer. The man who derailed Shaq Diesel. ‘Nobody thinks I’ve done anything all year, especially Shaq,’ Ostertag said after the series triumph. ‘But I guess that’a why he’s playing golf right now and I’m in the Western Conference finals.'”

Talk about bold statements from Ostertag. Although, he paid the price in the preseason.

Shaq got his revenge on Greg Ostertag by slapping him during a preseason game

Shaquille O’Neal isn’t one to forgive and forget. Greg Ostertag learned that the hard way when Shaq got revenge for all his boastfulness. How? By slapping him in the face during a preseason game.

That certainly was the last time Greg Ostertag talked trash about Shaq. After all, who in their right mind would want to get slapped by the 324-pound big man?

Also Read: “I Wanted to be a Smaller Shaquille O’Neal!”: Allen Iverson Once Colorfully Described His First Impression of Lakers Legend

Post Edited By: Raahib Singh
Shaquille O'Neal

About the author

Nithin Joseph

Nithin is a content writer at The SportsRush. Like his favorite athlete Kobe Bryant, the company has helped Nithin elevate his writing skills to a whole new level, especially as an NBA content writer. With over 1500 articles to his name, Nithin's love for the sport knows no bounds. And, as he continues to watch the sport on a daily basis, he hopes his fascination with the NBA, especially the Miami Heat will inspire more and more readers to give the sport a chance. Perhaps, one day making basketball in India as big as it is in the United States.

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