When seven feet and 300-plus pounds of fury comes charging at you on a basketball court, even the bravest souls would think twice about standing their ground. Yet, throughout his legendary NBA career, Shaquille O’Neal’s imposing presence didn’t just battle in the paint – it sometimes spilled over into heated confrontations that became part of basketball folklore. From his infamous swings at Brad Miller during a 2002 game against the Chicago Bulls to nearly coming to blows with Dennis Rodman in 1999, Shaq’s competitive fire occasionally burned too hot to contain. However, one potential brawl with Charles Barkley was diffused not by security guards or teammates, but by an unstoppable force that even the Diesel couldn’t ignore.

In a revealing episode of ‘The Big Podcast,’ O’Neal recently shared the untold story of how maternal intervention prevented what could have been one of the most explosive confrontations in NBA history.

“I threw the lazy left cause I wanted him to come on the inside, then I was gonna try to tear his jaw off. But he went around another way and then he flipped me. He got a little punching but the crazy thing about this story… By the time I got to the back, the phone ring and it was my mother and his mother on the phone at the same time. I say hello and she’s like don’t you hit my baby. And I was like who’s this and she’s like this Ms Barkley, and my mom and her were laughing. She said I already talked to Charles, Y’all shouldn’t be fighting, y’all should be setting good example for the children. We’re all mama’s boy, I didn’t wanna do it but I was like okay,” said Shaq during the podcast.

This incident happened during a game between the Los Angeles and the Philadelphia 76ers on November 10, 1999. The fight started only because Barkley had thrown a ball at his face. This was one of the most epic in-game physical altercations in NBA history. Both future Hall of Famers were heavyweights, but somehow, their teammates and the officials managed to separate them.

“Momma dropped that final order. I’m not gonna go against my momma ever. So, I’m walking down the hall. He’s walking down the hall. I’m looking at him like, ‘Motherf—-er, even if my momma said that, you make a move, Imma knock yo’ a– out. He started laughing, I started laughing,” said O’Neal during a podcast with Draymond Green.

Following his mother’s words was quite understandable on the side of the seven-footer. Shaquille O’Neal has always made it clear throughout his life, that he would always dedicate himself to honoring and supporting his mother, Lucille O’Neal. Shaq’s devotion to his mother has been so great, from paying for his mother’s dream house that cost him $1 million of his NBA paycheck to making sure she never had to work another day in her life.

Beyond material gifts, he supported her educational pursuits, proudly watching as she earned her bachelor’s degree in 1997 and also followed her order to complete his own college, which he ultimately did in 2000. “My hero is my mom,” said Shaq once during Mother’s Day.

Back then, this maternal peacekeeping mission was what led to the development of one of sports television’s most entertaining partners. Shaq and Charles often exchange frank and funny thoughts today on TNT as co-hosts, but they respect one another, and their mothers, enough to keep their interactions from getting out of hand. However, apart from this his mother also played another important role in Shaq’s life.

The reason why Shaquille O’Neal got rich

Shaq has always been known for his larger-than-life personality and his on-court and off-court prowess. Although everyone knows how the Lakers veteran’s savvy investment proved helpful in building up to $500 million worth, there was another factor that contributed to the growth.

During an interview with Patrick Bet David in 2022, Shaq shared that the true essence of wealth and success lay in the ability to fulfill his mother’s wishes and ensure her comfort. “My sole dream was to be able to buy my mother anything she wants, even to this day. That’s why I work hard,” said O’Neal.

He even added about the moment when he bought his mom two Louis Vuitton purses. “It was my mom’s birthday, and she doesn’t even like Louis purses. I said, ‘Come, let’s take a ride,’ and you know the bags cost two thousand. She’s like, ‘No baby, don’t buy that.’ And I’m like, ‘Get two of them, Mom,” added Shaq.

Moreover the ‘Big Aristotle‘ even shared the reason why he was so fierce on the court. “When I’m on that court, you can’t outplay me because if you are, you’re taking my mother’s house away. And I can’t have that,” said Shaq during the interview. Perhaps this is why Shaq was so angry with Barkley. But ultimately Shaq’s story is a poignant one that speaks to athletes that their reasons for their competitiveness could be more deeply personal than we all expected.