Recalling Shaquille O’Neal’s Ruthless Showdown Against 7’2″ Giant, French Soccer Legend Unveils Impromptu Change of Plans

It was one of those ‘you had to be there’ moments in NBA history. Fortunately for an Arsenal soccer legend, he was at the right place at the right time. He witnessed the most epic duel of two of the NBA’s biggest centers in 2001. Two decades later, he’s still reeling from it. The Frenchman brought it up in the latest edition of the Skweek Show with Tony Parker. What is the moment that has one athletic star still in shock? It had to do with Shaquille O’Neal.

Big Diesel was a bulldozer on the court. His physicality defied the laws of physics, but he also knew how to put that 7’1″ frame to good use. One such shocking instance went down in 2001 when a soccer legend had a front-row seat.

2003 Ballon D’Or runner-up still surprised at Shaquille O’Neal’s feat

When Thierry Henry was at the prime of his career, so was the Los Angeles Lakers dynasty with Shaquille O’Neal. In 2001, Shaq was in the running for his second championship title. The Lakers faced off against the Philadelphia 76ers in the Finals. Henry, an avid NBA fan, was there to watch it.

Shaq’s equivalent in the other team was Dikembe Mutombo. The Congolese-American was a lauded defensive center with a stacked NBA career. At 7’2″, weighing 260 lbs, Mr. Mutombo had the height, power and wingspan to be one of the best inside defenders at that time.

To everyone’s shock, Shaq flicked him off like a bug. Well, not literally, although it looked that way to Henry, who saw it happen seated behind the basket.

“I’ve never seen a human moving another human being like Shaq did on Dikembe Mutombo,” he told the Hall of Famers he was seated with. The others were quick to recall the 2001 game with that reference.

Henry would explain the ironic context when Mutombo underestimated Big Aristotle. “Dikembe Mutombo made the mistake of saying we don’t need to put a double team on Shaq.” That decision backfired big time. O’Neal and the Lakers won Game 5 and the championship.

With stars like Dwyane Wade and Pau Gasol in front of him, Henry was gushing how does a human so easily post another giant like Mutombo. Gasol quipped, “By being bigger.” And we all know Shaq is all about big.

Shaquille O’Neal vs Dikembe Mutombo: The epic face off

Decades later, Jerry West would recall how O’Neal’s physicality might embarrass Mutombo and the Sixers. By his narration, it was clear that Shaquille O’Neal at his prime was a tough mountain to climb for any center.

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Despite winning the series, Game 3 in 2001 left a bitter taste in Shaq’s mouth even though the Lakers won 96-91.

He was fouled out because of Mutombo allegedly flopping. Post game, both were trading jabs at each other. While Shaq challenged him to “Play me like a man,” Dikembe argued he was not the referee to make a call. However, Big Shaq ended up having the upper hand by holding a 21-8 record against Mutombo. Shaq also dominated the playoffs with an impressive 4-1 stat in his favor.

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