Shaquille O’Neal is one of the biggest personalities to have ever played in the NBA. A freak of nature, the big man stood 7 feet tall and had the build of an oak tree. Despite his ginormous size, Shaq played with a certain explosiveness that made him feared across the league. Dominant in the paint, the 4x NBA champion was an unstoppable force during his playing days and was quite bullish about it all.

Known for his kindness and sense of humor today, Shaq wasn’t always the big friendly giant he is today. Having previously been challenged to a fight by a teammate when naked, Shaq isn’t a stranger to violence. Perhaps the most infamous of them all occurred 19 years ago when he “embarrassed” his parents and an NBA legend in Jerry West.

Shaquille O’Neal’s altercation leads to face Jerry West’s wrath

During the first game of the 1997-98 season, the Utah Jazz took on the Los Angeles Lakers at the Forum. A replay of the 1997 Western Conference semi-finals, the Lakers had been swept by the Jazz in the series and the tension between the two couldn’t have been higher.

While the tensions flared up, Shaq silently eyed Utah’s Greg Ostertag, as the center had unloaded some trash talk during the semifinals. In a moment of pure chaos, Shaq chose to slap the Texas native as he was left looking for his contact lenses.

This lapse of judgment saw the former MVP being suspended for one game and fined $10,000. While the league sentenced this punishment on Shaq, Jerry West didn’t take kindly to the big man’s actions.

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Recalling that exact moment, the 3x finals MVP remembered West dismantling him for his “childish behavior“. Calling him an “embarrassment“, Shaq recounted Jerry, stating. “You embarrassed yourself, your team, your parents, and this organization.”

Jerry West on the Shaq-Ostertag incident

Although Jerry went in on the LA Lakers legend for his embarrassing behavior, he fondly remembers his time with the big man, calling him a “fun guy.” During a recent appearance on ‘The Rich Eisen Show’, the Hall of Famer recounted the Ostertag incident, giving his take on the unfortunate episode.

Turning back time, the legend remembered Shaq walking onto the court as he slapped the Utah Jazz center. Horrified by what he had just witnessed, West recalled speaking to the big man as he called him out on his behavior.

Revealing what he had said to Shaq, Jerry stated. “I said Shaquille ‘You’re going to be a player that these fans are going to love in Los Angeles and for the first game of the season at home you are not going to play?”

Perhaps the situation motivated Shaq to become an eventual legend in the game. West’s contribution was immense and undoubtedly has a place in O’Neal’s heart.

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