“I’d Kill Shaq in..”: When a Key Derek Jeter Figure Made a Bold Challenge to NBA Legend Shaquille O’Neal

Shaquille O’Neal is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. But many experts and analysts predicted that he could’ve been even greater if not for his poor free throw shooting. O’Neal was widely known for being one of the worst when it came to shooting from the charity stripe. In fact, he was once brutally put down by a New York Yankees star in 1999. 

This Yankees star is none other than Darryl Strawberry, who was a great MLB player, winning 3 World Series titles. He also played a huge role in mentoring Derek Jeter during his early years. In 1999, Strawberry made a comment directed at O’Neal mocking the NBA legend’s free throw shooting.

New York Yankees star Darryl Strawberry said he’d “kill” O’Neal in a free-throw contest

In 1999, Shaquille O’Neal was in his prime and considered one of NBA’s best superstars. But this didn’t stop New York Yankee star Darryl Strawberry from calling out the NBA star’s free-throw shooting. While talking to New York Post, Strawberry was asked whether he’d beat O’Neal in a free-throw shooting contest. The Yankee star replied without hesitation, saying he’d kill the NBA legend at the charity stripe. 

According to the New York Post, Strawberry said, “I’d kill Shaq in a free-throw-shooting contest. Come on, man.” New York Post also noted that the Yankees star had played basketball in High School as the starting Power Forward. This means that although he wasn’t a professional, Strawberry had been good enough to make a starting 5. 

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The Yankee star was a great baseball player and a solid professional. Furthermore, he was Derek Jeter’s go-to person during the legendary shortstop’s rookie season in 1996 and acted as his mentor of sorts. But Strawberry and O’Neal had a strange connection in 1999 beyond this incident. 

Both Darryl Strawberry and Shaquille O’Neal won championships during the 1999 season

In 1999, both Darryl Strawberry and Shaquille O’Neal helped their teams win championships. Strawberry won the World Series title with the New York Yankees. O’Neal, on the other hand won the NBA Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers. 

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Unfortunately, the two athletes never had a free-throw competition to see who was better. What do you think of Darryl Strawberry saying he’d kill Shaquille O’Neal in a free throw contest? Kindly share your thoughts down below.