If there’s one universal fact, Shaq can hold a grudge. Whether it’s losing out on one vote in his near-unanimous MVP win or getting dunked on, Shaquille O’Neal has things that still grind his gears. An incident from his rookie season came up on The Big Podcast this week, and O’Neal’s still bitter about it. Enough that he’s ready to take legal action against the late David Stern. He believes the NBA commissioner was responsible for him losing the scoring title to David Robinson after Dominique Wilkins alleged foul play in ruining one of the potential highlights of Shaq’s career.

This is not even a recent reference. While fellow NBA pro-turned-TNT analyst, Baron Davis was on his podcast, Adam Lefkoe brought up Dominique Wilkins’ claims that Robinson’s 71-point game in ’93 was fixed. As soon as Lefkoe narrates it, Shaq opens the floor for advice. “Should I sue?” 

Davis finds it funny but Lefkoe asks on what grounds. Shaq very seriously suggests, “Point-shaving? Tampering?” Sounds funny but that’s how much it still stings Shaq. He’s alleged time and again David Stern enabled Robinson to reach 71 points so Shaq wouldn’t take the scoring title in his first year. Since Stern passed away in 2014, he’d have to sue the league for restitution (if he means it at all). He’s harbored these feelings for three decades but only recently Wilkins validated him.

Shaq wants answers

Dominique Wilkins said on a Draft Kings appearance, “During the last game of the season, I still remember…our coach came into the locker and said, ‘Don’t be upset, I’ve been told to take y’all out after the first five minutes of the because they really want to see David Robinson keep the scoring title in the West.’ ‘Cuz they don’t want Shaquille O’Neal to take the scoring title to the East.”

Wilkins’ Clippers and Robinson’s Spurs played on the same day after Shaq had a 32-point outing on the last game of the regular season. On the way to becoming the RoTY, Shaq had a 0.6 PPG lead over The Admiral. With Michael Jordan playing baseball, there was a chance that Shaq would keep the scoring title in the East.

However, under the Clippers owner’s and NBA commissioner’s demands, Nique claimed that their coach underplayed the Clippers so Robinson had the room to score. With 71 points, Robinson edged out Shaq to the scoring title and O’Neal had no opportunity to overcome it after playing the final game of the season.

For years Shaq called foul, even stating the Robinson’s teammates fed him the ball. After he came across Nique’s video on Instagram, he commented an emphatic, “I f**kin knew it.”

O’Neal still wonders if Robinson was in on it. However, Baron Davis believes Robinson was led to think he was doing this on his own. Shaq still wants to hear Robinson’s take on this three decades later. So what’s stopping him from getting The Admiral on The Big Podcast?