The 1996 USA team faced the mighty Australians in the Semi-Finals of the Summer Olympics. The stacked American team was ready for the contest, but there was a young infamous superstar whom they were not prepared for. Team USA led by Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Scottie Pippen managed to get the best of Australia. However, that was the first time they witnessed Shane Heal play basketball and he left them stunned.

Despite making easy work of the Australian national team, Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaq was one of them who was impressed by Heal. Though, he still gave a hilarious mid-game warning to the Aussie guard. As a 7-foot-tall monster, it would be embarrassing if a 6-foot guard scored on you. Well, that was the case between Heal and O’Neal.

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The Big Diesel joined a podcast where he was asked if he warned Heal that he would break his arm if he tried to drive the lane on him. The 4x NBA champion agreed, “That is true“. However, he has his reasons for it. Shaq explained, “Shane was having a really good game”. 

The Australian guard had 19 points and 5 assists, shooting 50% outside the line. Even O’Neal couldn’t outscore Heal, as he finished the game with 14 points. Shaq continued, “Nobody really knew of his talent, and you know how hard he played. And to this day he’s still one of my favorite players to come out of Australia. So Shane, I don’t know where you are, but I miss you, I love you,”. Hold on  though because this doesn’t end on a wholesome note. 

The 15x All-Star added in the end, “Even now at the age of 50, if you come in the lane, I’ll break your arm buddy”. Well, it’s Shaq, what did you expect? Anyhow, the 2000 MVP’s respect for Heal is quite massive. That is how impactful he was against the defending champs in 1996. 

Shaquille O’Neal explains how ‘Little’ Shane Heal trashed talk the Americans 

Shaq was asked last year which Australian star he would want to play with and without hesitation, he answered that it was Shane Heal.

O’Neal revisited their Olympic days, “We knew of a couple players on the team but nobody had heard of Shane Heal and he was doing work. That’s when they called me in to ‘touch him up’ ‘cause I’m the ‘touch up man’.”

Anyhow, Heal was too quick and small to catch as he “ducked” and hit a few threes on Shaq and also talked “smack” to him. That is when Shaq knew that “This kid can play”. Heal played for the Sacramento Kings in 1996-97 and later for the San Antonio Spurs in 2004, but he did not make a mark in the NBA in his 49 games played.

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However, Shane Heal’s heroics in the 1996 Olympics were good enough to impress the Big Aristotle. What are your thoughts on this?