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Shaquille O’Neal was a unique player in his own right. He was a force like no other. As one of the most dominant players, not many got the better of the Big Diesel. However, one particular center schooled him. In his recent interview with GQ, Shaq kept him off the list of the most dominating players in the game.

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While O’Neal is definitely a top contender to be the most dominant, Wilt’s records put him in a different league. The former Warriors star averaged a whopping 22 rebounds for his career. Despite all their dominance, particular players gave them a hard time. Bill Russell kept Wilt from winning. On the other hand, Hakeem Olajuwon was the arch-nemesis for Shaq.

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Despite getting the better of him, the Big Diesel didn’t mention Hakeem in his list of dominant players.

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No one but Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O’Neal

While speaking to GQ, Shaq went on to name the only two people he thinks belong to the most dominating conversation. The first was Wilt, and the other was Shaq himself. The Big Diesel also admitted that if he passed Wilt on the scoring list, he would have no one besides him in the category.

He said: “Now, most dominant, my category, is only one or two people. I’m fine with that. It’s either me or Wilt. I already passed Wilt in championships. When I signed a two-year deal with Boston, I was chasing that fifth ring to catch up with Kobe, but I was also chasing points to catch up with Wilt.” He continued saying, “But because I didn’t pass him, I have to allow people to still say his name. “

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It may seem surprising that Shaq didn’t include Hakeem. However, Olajuwon was always more reliant on his skill. He proved to be better against Shaquille O’Neal in the 1995 NBA Finals. The Dream averaged a staggering 32 points and 12 rebounds on the Big Diesel. In addition, he also put up 2 steals and 2 blocks per game. Hakeem went on to sweep a young Orlando Shaq, handing him his first loss.

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Shaq was still every bit as dominant in the series. The Big Diesel averaged 28 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists as well. Despite Hardaway and him combining for big, Hakeem prevailed. Shaq never got to exact his revenge over Hakeem, but he had his time a year ago when he finished a ferocious on the Rockets star.

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If both were in their primes, who do you think is the better player? Let us know in the comments below.

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Anuj Talwalkar

4,509 Articles

Anuj Talwalkar is a senior NBA Newsbreak specialist at EssentiallySports, trusted for his real-time coverage and fast, accurate updates on league developments. With five NBA seasons and two Olympics coverages under his belt, Anuj stands out as the go-to reporter for the NBA Matchday Newsdesk. As part of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, he continuously refines his hard reporting with grounded storytelling shaped by fan culture and court-level insights. An economics graduate and lifelong OKC fan since the Supersonics era, Anuj combines analytical thinking and a genuine passion for basketball. He’s recognized for both his live news coverage and feature writing, with aspirations to someday interview Russell Westbrook. Anuj’s reporting is marked by its reliability, depth, and strong connection to the pulse of the NBA.

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Arunaditya Aima

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