Back at LSU, Shaquille O’Neal was already a force of nature. That’s where the nickname “Diesel” stuck. Standing 7-foot-1, weighing over 325 pounds, and rocking a size 22 shoe, he moved like a guy half his size. The guy could block shots like he was swatting flies and score like it was second nature. That’s what made him special and separated him from the herd. Even now, decades later, the name “LSU Shaq” makes fans sit up. After all, his domination had already begun during his time at the college basketball level, and contending against him was a difficult task for his peers.
Why? Because there haven’t been many players who could match Shaq physically, and that carried on even in the NBA. He’d back you down with two hard dribbles, throw up a baby hook, or just dunk straight through you. Even legends like Dikembe Mutombo struggled to hold their ground. Teams would throw two or three guys at him, but it rarely worked. He either scored, got fouled, or both. The phrase “and-one” became his signature. Interestingly, a similar topic popped up during a recent conversation as an NFL legend decided to share details about defenders who gave him trouble.
Recently, Calvin Johnson dropped by The Big Podcast with Shaq, and the talk turned to rivals. Shaq leaned in and asked him, “Who was that one guy that you played against that you knew you always had to bring your A game?” Calvin didn’t hesitate. “Charles Tillman, for sure,” he said, adding that Tillman’s physicality forced him to always be on his toes. “Then there’s Al Harris. Dude would never back down, ever. You knew when you played him, you were in for a fight.” However, the title of the most annoying would go to Patrick Peterson. In Johnson’s words, “that was very annoying to play him because that the dude was strong as a linebacker, fast as DB.” This led the host to say, “LSU Shaq,” prompting a slight smirk from Shaq.
May 28, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Shaquille O’Neal watches the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves in game four of the western conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Then it was Shaq’s turn to answer. He flipped the script. He claimed, “No, I always had a problem with the smaller guys.” It turns out it was the lower center of gravity that caused him the most trouble. “Mahone was a handful and Charles Oakley were handfuls because they had that low center of gravity. They had leverage.” However, he saw some similarity between himself and Calvin. This led him to ask, “Was it ever any one guy that hit you so hard and made you go, ‘God damn, that ****** was strong.” Calvin’s answer? London Fletcher! He recalled how Flecher once hit him so hard that he had to tell the coach, “I think I’m done for the day.”
Shaquille O’Neal’s dominance still echoes in the minds of his greatest rivals
What made Shaquille O’Neal such a nightmare to guard? Ask anyone who played in his era, especially someone like Marcus Camby. The former Knicks big man, known for his defense, recently opened up about his battles in the paint. On The Real Talk, Camby didn’t hesitate when asked about his toughest opponent. “Well, the toughest competitor I went up against was definitely Shaq,” he said. Coming from a 6-foot-11 Defensive Player of the Year, that means something.
Camby’s resume speaks for itself. He led the league in blocks four times and made the All-Defensive Team on four occasions. But even with all that, Shaq stood out as the one guy who couldn’t be stopped. Camby even joked that anyone from that era would probably give the same answer. That says a lot about Shaq’s presence: he wasn’t just big, he was unstoppable. You had to change your whole game just to survive him.
So, what made Shaq so difficult to handle? Well, if you look past his free throws, it was his confidence in using his physique as an advantage. During a press conference back in 2001, Shaq explained it perfectly. “I’m the only player in the league that has to change my game day in and day out,” he said. Then he added, “I enjoy punishing people… because I can’t even stop myself one-on-one.” It’s bold, but anyone who watched him play knows it’s not an exaggeration.
Shaq embraced being feared. His size gave him a clear advantage, but it was his attitude that elevated him. That mindset helped him dominate and leave a legacy that still lives in highlight reels—and in the memories of rivals like Marcus Camby.
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