Around this time of year, Hardwood Paroxysm usually does a theme week. This year, as the pool of players who began their careers in the 1990s dwindles, we thought it would be fun to celebrate the entire decade. In typical HP fashion, we will be covering ten years of basketball like a cat chasing a laser pointer. There is nothing comprehensive about our plans, around the HP Network we’re simply digging into the players, teams, and stories from that decade which interest us most. Welcome to #90sWeek.
Shaquille O’Neal is and always has been a large human being. Just how large you remember him as depends on your age, though, as younger fans mostly remember Lakers and late career Shaq, a dominant force who also happened to be pushing the limits of heftiness. But there was a Shaq before that, one that dominated the early part of the 90s, not based on girth and strength but with athleticism, ferocity and, well strength. In 1992 the NBA was introduced to that version of Shaq on his way to his Rookie of the Year award, when he started doing things like breaking entire baskets.
The tip dunk part of this was impressive enough. Shaq reacts with quickness that a seven footer should not have to get to the ball in time to dunk it, and then the show really happens. Slowly the entire basket starts to fold, afraid of what else O’Neal could do to it. To bring that much power while flying in to grab a rebound is incredible, and something that only O’Neal and a handful of players in NBA history could do.
Love live 90s Shaq. Only he can force welding to become a part of a basketball game.