San Antonio Spurs icon David Robinson was one of the most dominant centers back in the NBA nineties. That's why when Shaquille O'Neal came into his own, matchups between the two became appointment viewing.
A rumored beef slowly started simmering between the two throughout their battles, which was even laid out nicely in SB Nation series Beef History.
But according to Shaq, his animosity with David Robinson was simply made up. In a recent appearance on Scoop B Radio, the Big Diesel dished on his rivalry with the Spurs legend.
Transcription via Fadeaway World:
“David was just so nice and respectful,” Shaq said of the Spurs star. “He’s just a nice guy. I’m not a bully. You have to piss me off for me to get mad. David was, ‘Hey Shaq how ya doin? How’s your family?’ So nice and – so I had to make something up just to make me mad and then when I came down to San Antonio and the fans start booing me – ‘Oh you’re booing me in my hometown?’
“And then it was like a hatred thing for David and the Spurs. But it was all made up.”
Shaq on beef with David Robinson: “It was all made up.”
“When I came down to San Antonio and the fans start booing me – ‘Oh you’re booing me in my hometown?’
And then it was like a hatred thing for David & the Spurs.”– Via Scoop B Radio pic.twitter.com/DUkQDdDirz
— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) September 18, 2021
Given the us-against-the-world mentality that existed in the NBA back then, it's easy to believe that Shaq, Robinson, and other stars would rile each other up for some extra motivation. It's the personification of Michael Jordan's “I took that personally” meme from The Last Dance that very much resonated with players of that era.
By all accounts, David Robinson was one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. Spurs fans will be the first to tell you that. Shaq simply had to find ways to stir up some drama, even with an amicable figure like The Admiral.
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