“White People Think Black People Can’t Swim”: Phil Jackson’s ‘Racist’ Comment Caught Shaquille O’Neal by Surprise

The latest documentary about Shaquille O’Neal has created a fresh wave of eager fans wishing to know more about the star. The 7 ft 1″ demands such attention. His life is worthy of such a show. During the second episode, Shaq, in the docu, shared an interesting story. He narrated his first meeting with Phil Jackson.

In it, he claimed that Phil made him carry a log to an island. In his 2011 biography Shaq Uncut, the former Lakers legend mentioned another story from this same meeting. Though this particular instance wasn’t mentioned on the show, it still allows a peak into O’Neal’s psyche.

In 1999, Shaquille O’Neal was keen on winning a title, so he pushed for Phil’s hiring. The legendary coach agreed to meet O’Neal in his lakeside house. There, Shaq noted racist undertones in one of Phil’s comments.

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Shaquille O’Neal found Phil Jackson’s assumption racist

In his book Shaq Uncut, Shaq revealed how he visited Phil Jackson’s lakeside house in Montana. Phil was out on a doctor’s appointment with his daughter. Shaq found a trampoline in Jackson’s backyard and started hopping on it.

When neighborhood kids found the 7ft 1″ superstar bouncing on the trampoline, they naturally gravitated toward him. Upon his return, Phil found Shaq entertaining a crowd.

After the show, Big Diesel stepped into the lake to cool off. That is when Phil Jackson walked up to him and suggested Shaq should wear a life vest. O’Neal believed there were racist undertones to Phil’s assumption.

Shaq Uncut: “Phil was at a doctor’s appointment with his daughter. When he got back I was jumping on his trampoline with all the neighborhood kids. But then I got hot, so I threw on my bathing suit and started to do gainers off Phil’s dock into the lake. Phil kept asking me, “Shouldn’t you be wearing a life vest?” Maybe he thought I couldn’t swim, because most white people think black people can’t swim. Not true, dawg. I’m an excellent swimmer.”

Phil Jackson banned O’Neal from acting, rapping, and partying

In the same 2011 book, Shaq wrote more about this meeting. After his swim, where he proved Phil wrong, the two sat down to talk. That is when Phil Jackson laid down the ground rules for the upcoming season. Jackson banned Shaq from all extra-curricular activities.

His reasoning was simple. All the movies, rap albums, and partying had to stop. Shaquille immediately agreed and vowed to follow every rule and solely focus on winning championships. They went on to win three back-to-back championships. Guess the partnership was fairly successful despite the strange start.

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