“He’d Put All 340 Lbs”: Golden State Warriors Assistant Coach Reveals Why Shaquille O’Neal Would Give Him the Most Trouble

Golden State Warriors assistant coach Jarron Collins recalled how he and his brother found it hard to play against Shaquille O’Neal. For them, the former Los Angeles Lakers star was the player who gave them the most trouble.

“His physical strength was incredible,” Collins recalled on the Runnin’ Plays Podcast. He said he and his brother Jason Collins would often talk about playing against O”Neal. They were never on the same team but they would discuss strategies to stop O’Neal.

“We would flop, quite frankly. We’d try to draw offensive fouls and try to get him out of the game that way. Shaq knew my brother and I would flop, so his very first post move and very first foul, he’d get his money’s worth,” Jarron said (H/T NBC Sports).

“He’d be on the right block, take two hard dribbles to the middle and drop step back to the baseline. When he would drop step, he’d put all 340 lbs into his right arm and just take this whole thing …”

Golden State Warriors asst coach Jarron Collins also found Tim Duncan difficult to face apart from Shaquille O’Neal

Jarron Collins played as a center in the NBA for 10 years before turning to coaching. He started his playing career in 2001 with Utah Jazz where he spent the majority of his career. He left the Jazz in 2009 and ended his career after short stints at Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, and Portland Trail Blazers.

His twin brother Jason, meanwhile played majorly for New York Nets after starting with his Jarron. He too played as a center. It isn’t surprising that they found O’Neal hard to play against considering how their careers coincided with his prime. They weren’t the only two players to have found O’Neal a tough opponent. A major reason why many consider the four-time NBA champion among the best players to have played in the league.

Another player that Jarron Collins found difficult to play against was San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan.

“That guy is so skilled as a basketball player,” Collins said. “You try to take away players’ A move, you take away their counters, their B moves, and when a guy goes to their C moves and he’s still killing you, it’s like, alright man. I need some help. When’s the double coming?”