The NBA has seen some giants grace the game in its long history. However, no one really dominated the game like Shaquille O’Neal did. Mastering the drop step, the Big Diesel was almost unstoppable while carrying around a 7-foot frame with supernatural athleticism. Shaq was likely a force no one wanted to come up against.

However, even when standing at 7 feet 1 inch tall, the four-time NBA champion does not rank among the tallest players in the history of the game. But when it comes to ‘regular’ sized people, the legend is undoubtedly a larger-than-life figure. Towering most of the population, the Los Angeles Lakers great is a walking gentle giant. Notably, he makes everyday items look tiny due to his huge limbs.

Hence, Melissa Hoyer, an interviewer had to adjust to the giant. Likewise, looking back at the first time she met Shaq in 1997, she couldn’t remember if a ladder was involved.

The ladder came out for Shaquille O’Neal

In 1997, Planet Hollywood opened up to much fanfare and spectacle. The spot quickly became a popular hub for celebrities. However, despite the major backing, the restaurant went bankrupt twice. However, for Hoyer, she met up with a young Shaquille O’Neal.

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Standing at just 5 feet 2 inches, she looked miniature in front of the Los Angeles Lakers icon. Remembering the time she met the Big Diesel, Hoyer said she might have used a ladder to interview the four-time champion.

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She took to Twitter to relive the moment and said: “In *that* box of assorted pics you find at home: when 7ft 1 met 5ft 2. Circa 1997. Can’t remember whether I used a ladder to interview Shaq at the Planet Hollywood opening in Melbourne.”

That night, Planet Hollywood got the biggest celebrities out in Melbourne. Names such as Sylvester Stallone, Will Smith, and Sugar Ray Leonard were all present at the opening of the restaurant. However, the jolly atmosphere soon came to a standstill. On the same night as the opening, the tragic news of Princess Diana’s death came to the surface. Likewise, the mood of the event quickly switched on hearing about the grave incident.

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However, for Hoyer, she got a memory that she will probably cherish for life. What do you think of this Shaquille O’Neal story? Let us know your views in the comments below.