NBA players have an average of more than six feet six inches. The average height of a USA man is about five-feet-inches. Therefore, on average, NBA players feature some of the tallest people in the nation. Therefore, when a person of the average height appears alongside an average NBA player, the difference in size is palpable. But what happens when you stand next to an NBA player that is over seven feet tall?

Will Smith, who is five inches taller than the average USA person, felt dwarfed when he saw his photo with seven-foot one-inch Shaquille O’Neal.

Will Smith complains to Shaquille O’Neal

Smith and Shaq have met a bunch of times during their career. Both peaked in the 90s and both built big name recognition. Therefore, it was not a surprise when the two appeared side-by-side. During the 2004 MTV Awards, the two maestros shared the stage and it is clear how much bigger Shaq looks.

In an Instagram post, the acting phenom writes, ”Throwback to the exact moment when I realized 6’2 aint that tall. Yo @shaq – save a little height for the rest of us, man!! #tbt”.

This photo came in August 29, 2004, one and a half months after Shaq was traded to the Miami Heat. This event fittingly took place in Shaq’s 2004 destination, American Airlines Arena, the home court of the Miami Heat. At the event, Will Smith introduced Shaq to the crowd, and the two then gave the Best Pop Video Award to No Doubt’s “It’s My Life”. 

For Smith, this photo comes 25 days after the release of his movie The Seat Filler. It’s been 19 years since the photo was clicked, Smith was 35 years then and Shaq was 32 years old. Both were at the peak of their careers, but Shaq was going through the turmoil surrounding his trade. Now they are in their 50s, but the memory has set strongly with the actor. 

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Shaq’s old teammate was a huge Will Smith fan too.

Kobe loved Smith

While this photo came when Kobe and Shaq couldn’t see eye-to-eye, the Center revealed an interesting nugget in his book Shaq Uncut, which was released in 2011. In the book, Shaq recalls how Kobe Bryant once wanted not to be just like Mike but like Will too. During a bus ride, the Black Mamba told Diesel,  “I’m going to be the number one scorer for the Lakers, I’m going to win five or six championships, and I’m going to be the best player in the game. I was like, ‘Okay, whatever.’ Then he looked me right in the eye and said, “I’m going to be the Will Smith of the NBA.”

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Kobe did accomplish what he wanted but he made Will look taller than Shaq did.