With the NBA Finals tipping off this week, basketball fans are buzzing about the showdown between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks. A big reason for that excitement is Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 phenomenon who continues to redefine what a modern big man can do.
Today’s centers are expected to handle the ball, shoot three-pointers, run offenses, and do just about everything except sell popcorn in the stands. Players like Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid have transformed the position into something completely different from what it was a generation ago.
That evolution has created a new challenge for young giants. With so many skills required, it can sometimes be difficult to figure out exactly what kind of player they’re supposed to be.
Shaquille O’Neal never had that problem.
Long before he was collecting NBA championships, starring on television, launching business ventures, and becoming the larger-than-life personality fans know today, Shaq had a very simple philosophy about basketball.
If you’re bigger, stronger, and more powerful than everyone else, use it.
Back in 1990, O’Neal had just finished his freshman season at LSU. The young center was already turning heads after averaging nearly 14 points, 12 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game. But it was during the summer Olympic Festival that he truly announced himself as one of basketball’s future superstars.
The numbers were ridiculous.
In just four games, Shaq piled up 98 points and 58 rebounds while setting tournament records. One performance included 14 rebounds, six assists, and an eye-popping 10 blocked shots. Opponents quickly discovered that trying to challenge the massive LSU center was usually a bad life decision.
More impressive than the statistics was the confidence.
While some young players spend years figuring out their identity on the court, Shaq already knew exactly who he was.
In a 1990 interview, he summed up his basketball philosophy in classic Shaq fashion.
“I’m 7-foot-1, 285 pounds. Seven foot means dominance.”
That mindset would eventually become the foundation of one of the most dominant careers basketball has ever seen. Shaq wasn’t interested in being fancy. He wasn’t dreaming about fadeaway jumpers or long-range shooting contests. He wanted to get close to the basket, overpower defenders, and make the rim question its life choices.
What’s also interesting is how disciplined Shaq was at such a young age.
While many top players were chasing every possible opportunity during the summer, O’Neal listened to LSU coach Dale Brown and chose to play in the Olympic Festival instead of accepting invitations to other prestigious international competitions.
His reasoning was refreshingly simple.
Coach Brown asked him to do it.
That’s it.
The future Hall of Famer also showed wisdom beyond his years when discussing his long-term future. Rather than worrying about making national teams or impressing scouts, he focused on improving and trusting the process.
His father had taught him that if he handled his responsibilities, everything else would take care of itself.
That lesson paid off.
Even though many scouts believed he was NBA-ready almost immediately, Shaq stayed at LSU for two more seasons, continuing to develop both as a player and a person. In 1992, the Orlando Magic selected him with the first overall pick in the NBA Draft, launching one of the greatest careers the sport has ever seen.
As fans marvel at today’s generation of giant superstars, it’s fun to remember that one of the biggest and best to ever do it had a pretty straightforward approach.
Be big.
Be dominant.
And make absolutely no apologies for either.