“I want to be strong, dominant,” said Shaquille O’Neal once. He has also proved his strength and dominance through his skills. The larger-than-life personality over the years has been praised by numerous players including teammates and opponents. Remember the time when Charles Barkley had praised the Lakers legend for his raw power and ability to adapt to the game or the time when Kobe Bryant had praised him for his form during the Lakers’ three-peat championship run? Now another NBA legend has spoken highly about DJ Diesel as he sat down with Essentially Sports but with a twist in the narrative.

In an exclusive interview with Essentially Sports, assistant coach and former NBA player, Caron Butler was asked the question: What was it like playing against Shaq back in the day? The former NBA champ, spared no moment to answer that and offered a fresh perspective, shifting the spotlight from Shaq’s size to a far more understated quality.

“He had a high basketball IQ as well. People don’t give him enough credit for how smart he was on the basketball court. You know he manipulated the game and that’s the reason why he has what four championships? And now what he has done away from the game of basketball, he’s an exceptional businessman, someone that a lot of people can follow,” said Butler during the interview.

Shaquille O’Neal’s size is always in the spotlight, but it was his brainpower that kept his dominance sustainable. His basketball IQ was on full display in the 2000 NBA Finals, against the Indiana Pacers. O’Neal faced a tough defensive lineup led by Rik Smits and Dale Davis, but he strategically exploited mismatches to ensure his teammates stayed involved. His decision-making was important in the Lakers clinching the championship that year, with Shaq averaging an astounding 38 points, 16.7 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game in six playoff games.

Now coming to Butler, the former small forward was known for his versatility and defensive prowess. He had his fair share of encounters with O’Neal and during their clashes, Butler averaged 15.4 points and 6.7 rebounds holding his own as a reliable scorer and defender. However, if you thought Butler didn’t praise Shaq’s size during the interview then you are wrong. No conversation about Shaq is complete without discussing ‘Big Aristotle’s’ stature.

“Shaq was amazing. Huge body. Most forceful. Mobile. Dominant. Big man, ever seen. To be able to just get up the court at that size, it was just crazy. We used to have to send three, four guys at him at a time and he still averaged thirty points, forty points. He was just so relentless,” added Butler during the interview.

Diesel remains one of the most iconic players in NBA history with four NBA championships, three Finals MVP awards, and over 28,000 career points. However, as voices like Butler’s remind us, it wasn’t just his size that made him extraordinary—it was his mind. However, did you know that O’Neal was once the reason behind Butler’s hard time?

When Caron Butler recalled the moment that made him sad

The journey to the NBA for Butler was a story of perseverance, Drafted 10th overall by the Miami Heat in 2002, he quickly showcased his potential, averaging 15.4 points, and 5.1 rebounds in his rookie season. But his promising start in the summer of 2004 had a stalling surprise in store.

During that summer, the small forward was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a blockbuster deal involving Shaquille O’Neal. For Butler, this moment was bittersweet.

In an appearance on the ‘Knuckleheads podcast‘, Butler recalled how he had felt during that moment. “Man, that was one of the saddest days of my life. Getting traded. That’s when I got introduced to the business of basketball,” said Butler during the podcast.

Butler apparently performed well enough in his lone NBA season with the Lakers, averaging 15.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Butler is grateful for the time he spent with both franchises but the sadness of leaving Miami—where he started his career—is a poignant memory of his storied career.