via Getty
ORLANDO – JUNE 4: Shaquille O’Neal #32 and Dennis Scott #3 of the Orlando Magic celebrate against the Indiana Pacers during Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Finals on June 4, 1994 at Orlando Arena in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1995 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
via Getty
ORLANDO – JUNE 4: Shaquille O’Neal #32 and Dennis Scott #3 of the Orlando Magic celebrate against the Indiana Pacers during Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Finals on June 4, 1994 at Orlando Arena in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1995 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
Shaquille O’Neal had one of the best peaks in NBA history. He dominated the court like no other player. The marriage of size, athleticism, and raw talent was truly seen in this big behemoth of a man. Shaq was the best player in the NBA for a very short but memorable time. When the Orlando Magic drafted him in 1992, a lot of people expected him to be a great player.
He shattered all those expectations with an air of arrogance. When fans see Big Shaq nowadays, they find a confident man. But his former teammate, Dennis Scott saw a version of him completely different during his rookie years.
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Scott came on Shaq’s podcast very recently and talked about the latter’s initial years in the league. “When I met Shaq, he wasn’t the confident guy you guys know now,” said Scott. The former Magic forward stated that Shaq was a million times humbler before he became Shaq.
Scott said, “He was Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal when I met him. So he was trying to figure out who he was. I remember sitting on the back of the bus in Anaheim. We were playing the Los Angeles Clippers. He comes to the back of the bus and says ‘3-D 3-D come here come here.’ I say what and he says ‘I might get a 100 million.’ I say fool, you might get 200 million.”
He mentioned Shaq being amazed and worried by that fact. It meant he can’t go anywhere now. Scott reminded him that he couldn’t do that now, as well, to which Diesel agreed.
Shaquille O’Neal and the 90s Orlando Magic
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Scott was Orlando Magic’s highest scorer, along with Nick Anderson. Then came along Shaquille O’Neal and raised havoc in the league. The Magic became serious contenders for the crown. Scott, Anderson, Shaq, and Horace Grant made Orlando one of the contenders from the Eastern Conference.
In 1995, they reached amazing heights with this team. In the conference semifinals, they famously defeated the Jordan-led Chicago Bulls. They appeared in the Finals for the first time but lost to Hakeem Olajuwon’s Rockets.
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Dennis Scott scored 14.7 points in that postseason. with a three-point percentage of 37%. It was a “Magical” run from them. But the team broke up subsequently with Shaq going to the Lakers and winning three trophies.
