When it comes to icy NBA reunions, Shaquille O’Neal knows the feeling all too well. Long before LeBron James faced Cleveland’s wrath over his Miami decision and Kevin Durant braved the boos back in OKC as a Golden State Warrior, Shaq had already felt the sting of hometown fans turning cold.

During an NBA on TNT broadcast, the panel dived into Klay Thompson’s return game against the Warriors. Thompson kept things level, saying, “It’ll be good to see people you grinded with, obviously, but to me, it’s just another regular season game in November.”

Charles Barkley suggested it would likely be a heartfelt moment for Thompson with Golden State fans, but Shaq jumped in, reminding everyone, “it’s just a regular game.” However, as the conversation unfolded, Chuck pressed the Lakers star: “You weren’t upset when you went back to Orlando?” Shaq answered, “Yes, because they booed me.” So for Shaq, it’s just “a regular game.”

Things heated up even more when Charles Barkley nudged further, asking Shaq about his return to Los Angeles. The answer? Another round of boos. “They booed me. I always got booed,” Shaq admitted. Even with his towering confidence, the villain’s label hurt. The jeers only pushed him harder to perform, scoring big in his revenge games—except for that one Atlanta night, which he joked about not bringing his A-game.

Unlike Shaquille O’Neal, many are expecting a warm welcome for Thompson. Rumors suggest Golden State fans will receive a special “Captain Hat” to celebrate his return, a nod to the team’s respect for his legacy. “I guess it’s a good thing for the fans, so kudos to them,” Thompson quipped, leaning into the moment.

After 13 seasons, four championships, and countless memories, Thompson’s connection to Golden State feels unbreakable. The team is likely planning a tribute for him, and fans will flood the stands with cheers and nostalgia. But for Klay, he’s keeping it simple—it’s just another chapter in his career, another step in moving forward.

Shaq created drama for his Orlando return

Earlier this year, Shaquille O’Neal opened up about his first game back in Orlando after leaving the Magic. Chatting with former Magic player Dennis Scott on the Orlando Magic’s YouTube channel, Shaq didn’t hold back on how it felt to face the crowd that once cheered for him but now viewed him as a rival. His 1996 free agency move had ignited plenty of emotions, and he knew fans weren’t ready to forgive and forget.

But Shaq had a plan: he wanted to fuel that intensity even further. To stir things up, he let rumors circulate that he didn’t get along with former teammates Penny Hardaway and Nick Anderson. It was all about building up the hype, as he told Scott.

“I have to market the game to where we hate each other,” he admitted. Shaq’s quotes went viral, and he wasn’t shy about it. “Shaq, what’s the news? ‘Oh, I hate Penny, I ain’t talking to Penny. He dogged me out.’ ‘What about Nick?’ ‘I ain’t talking to Nick either.’” And when the boos came? “It worked.”

This approach wasn’t just limited to Orlando. Shaq once also shared he’d exaggerated his beef with Kobe Bryant for similar reasons. For Shaq, keeping his name out there meant playing up the drama—something he did brilliantly throughout his career.