Rare Photograph of Shaquille O’Neal’s Iconic Draft Day Flex Alongside Media Veteran Resurfaces

Every time Shaquille O’Neal is on NBA on TNT, he’s in a well-tailored suit. Before the unusual colors of his suits would be a viral discussion on social media, he was showing another veteran in the sports media world his ’90s fashion. Ahmad Rashad, who fans know even more because of The Last Dance, had built a reach within the NBA world through Inside Stuff.

Three decades ago, Rashad introduced the future NBA hall-of-famer and the future Inside the NBA analyst, Shaquille O’Neal. A picture of that moment resurfaced through a collaboration with Shaq’s official Instagram page. “Shaq showing off his suit to Ahmad Rashad prior to the NBA Draft. (1992),” it described.

The then-LSU star who had drawn national attention, was the subject of Rashad’s show before the 1992 NBA draft. In this image, he’s seen in recognizable ’90s trend markers like the beige trousers, graphic printed short-sleeved shirt, and that buzz-cut, while he showed Rashad his oversized grey suit with a purple tie.

On draft day, the suit is complemented with the Orlando Magic cap when the team picks him first overall. It remains one of his most iconic images when he held the #33 Magic jersey wearing that suit and cap alongside the team’s late owner, Richard DeVos. The story from that point is well known. But Rashad followed a top prospect to show the soon-to-be knighted Superman’s raw talent.

He’s worn that color many times, even got slandered for it. But this throwback reminds us about what was good about Rashad’s show.

Fans relive the Inside Stuff

Shaquille O’Neal was the most hyped NBA prospect in a long time. Rashad wanted to show why. It was easy to set up the interview as both had the same agent.

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His style was to showcase athletes behind the scenes. So, after the crew filmed the important bits to show how “big and strong” Shaq is, Rashad donned a tank top the color very similar to Shaq’s suit and challenged the LSU junior to a match in a Southern California gym. The result: Shaq embarrassed him with a two-hand dunk that broke the backboard. That would be a sign of what’s coming a year later.

That remains one of the most iconic episodes of NBA’s Inside Stuff. Fans not only got nostalgic about Shaq’s ’90s fashion but they’re also recalling the highlights of Rashad’s career from this post. What is your favorite tidbit about pre-NBA Shaq?

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