There was no one quite like Shaquille O’Neal in the NBA. An unstoppable force in the post. The big man was nearly unguardable. His sheer size was enough to overwhelm opponents. Combine that with a speed a 7-footer shouldn’t have, and The Big Diesel became a recipe for annihilation. Ever since the first time he stepped on the court, he intimidated his opponents. However, there was one man even Shaq feared. That was none other than Michael Jordan. Battling his feelings in 1996, the four-time NBA champion put the highly regarded GOAT in a blender.

Shaq and MJ have a nearly identical place in the history books of the NBA. They are the last two players to win three consecutive championships and Finals MVP honors. Moreover, The Big Diesel was also the only rookie since His Airness to make the All-Star game in 1992. In the prime of their careers, battles between these two were inevitable. In Jordan’s initial return to the NBA, the Orlando Magic center became the only man to defeat him in a playoff series from 1991 to 1998.

However, that wouldn’t be the only victory he had over the six-time champion. Warming up in the 1996 All-Star game, Shaq did his best ‘dream shake’ and left Michael Jordan lost.

Shaquille O’Neal proudly shares the time he dominated Michael Jordan

By 1996, Shaq had established himself as one of the best centers in the NBA. On the other hand, Jordan was in the midst of a record-breaking regular season with the Chicago Bulls. It was Air Jordan’s first full season since his first retirement. With vengeance on his mind, the six-time Finals MVP completely tore apart any competition. That season, MJ would win MVP, All-Star game MVP, and Finals MVP.

READ MORE-“I’m Better Than Michael Jordan”: Shaquille O’Neal, Who Once Called the Bulls Icon the GOAT, Made Big Claim for Heartwarming Reason

However, despite a season full of wins, Jordan did take a loss. Notably, trying to guard Shaquille 0’Neal one-on-one didn’t go to plan for the Bulls legend. Over 30 years after the iconic moment, Shaq took to his Instagram story to refresh the memory of his fans.

After their brief one-on-one matchup, the tandem would be on the same side for the game. Leading the Eastern Conference All-Stars to a resounding win, the pair were dominant. Michael Jordan was flawless as a scorer scoring 20 points on 72% shooting. While he took home All-Star game MVP honors, the game might not have had the same result if it wasn’t for Shaq. Dunking all over the Western Conference’s best centers, the Hall of Famer ended up with 25 points and 10 rebounds on the night.

WATCH THIS STORY: Shaquille O’Neal featuring in video games. Check how he looks

Both Jordan and Shaq share a mutual respect for one another’s game. Through their countless battles, both icons had their moments. However, as far as dominance goes, Shaquille O’Neal can proudly state how he got the better of one of basketball’s coldest assassins. If it was a full-fledged game, do you think Jordan would have won? Let us know your views in the comments below.