The term domination is synonymous with Shaquille O’Neal in the NBA. The 7’1 giant Shaq weighing 325 lbs went through the toughest of defenses and took down the greatest of big guys in the league, establishing his surmountable presence in the league. The four-time NBA champ is known for his funny antics and wisdom. However, O’Neal also possesses a trait of destruction that his opponents often faced on the court. Notably, Shaquille O’Neal once revealed that he nearly fought ‘lumberjack’ Henry Cavill due to his aggressive instincts.
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Back in 2016, renowned actors Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck appeared on TNT’s Tip-Off to promote their movie, ‘Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice’.
During the show, Affleck joked that his training was not quite the level at which Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley would have gone through as professional athletes. Shaq responded by stating that his days of intense training were over a long time ago.
Shaquille O’Neal nearly fought Henry Cavill
Affleck’s joke triggered Shaq to reveal that he almost ended up having a fight with Henry Cavill once. Shaq reckoned it was a true story pointing at Cavill. He continued, “Don’t let this lumberjack shirt fool you, this cat is ripped. So one night we’re in a hotel and somebody grabbed me. It felt like Artis Gilmore grabbed me. And I turn around, you know my thug mode and I look. And I was like oh, Hey Superman. How you doing buddy?”
Shaq suggested that he was almost ready to fight the person who had grabbed him from behind. However, he calmed down when he saw Henry Cavill. Shaq also indicated that Cavill was quite strong physically. Luckily, the 15-time All-Star switched off his ‘thug mode’ instantly and avoided having a fight with Henry Cavill.
Shaq once hit Barkley in 1996
Shaq found himself in controversies during his NBA days due to his physical altercations on the court. His brutal violence often led to some fines and suspension during his early days. However, the Lakers legend evolved over time and now he prefers to use wisdom to respond to his critics in unimaginable ways.
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Shaq hit several players during his time in the NBA. In one instance, he ended up hitting his dear friend Charles Barkley during a Lakers vs. Houston Rockets game in 1996. After getting frustrated by Barkley’s defense, Shaq punched him in the face and the officials had to split the two up.
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WATCH THIS STORY: 5 times Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal had heated fights on Inside The NBA
However, the two NBA veterans reconciled over dinner after the game and have been friends for a long time. Thus, Cavill might have dodged a bullet when he grabbed the Big Diesel from behind.