One rookie by the name of Shaquille O’Neal was taking advantage of the vacuum left by then-retired Michael Jordan to dominate the NBA. Then, His Airness returned and he was quick to adapt to the new players on the scene. The Bulls and other teams came up with some intense tactics to halt Big Diesel. After falling prey to ‘Hack-a-Shaq’ throughout the season, O’Neal was ready to call an expert to help him against Jordan.

The then up-and-coming Orlando Magic played against the three-time champions, Chicago Bulls in the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals. Leading the opponent was the Black Cat, fresh out of retirement. According to Sports Illustrated back then, it was the ‘Hack Pack’ comprised of Luc Longley, Will Perdue and Bill Wennington that had Shaq trembling worse.

Going against them in Game 2 made him let out the most emotional plea for help. “Hulk [Hogan], I need you, man,” Shaquille O’Neal said after the Game 1.

Shaq and Hulk Hogan have been friends for decades. A year prior to Jordan’s return, Shaq was ringside at Hogan’s match with Ric Flair. He even famously sported the wrestler’s signature fashion in a photograph with him. But he didn’t come to Shaq’s rescue this time.

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Regardless, Shaq showed who was more dominant in Game 3. Orlando finished the series 4-2 and knocked the Bulls out of the playoffs. They didn’t win but O’Neal still gloats that he was part of the last team that ever beat an MJ-led squad in the playoffs. As much as O’Neal was scared of going against his idol, Jordan too was dreading it.

Michael Jordan’s admission about Shaquille O’Neal

Being rusty out of his first retirement wasn’t the only thing on Jordan’s mind in 1995. It was going against a 7’1″ rookie. “When I came back from baseball – I didn’t know if I ever told anybody this – I am playing against Shaq. Shaq, the biggest person I’ve ever seen play, physically,” Jordan stated on the record.

He admitted he was “somewhat intimidated” by O’Neal, who was leading the NBA with a scoring average of 29.3 PPG. He’d stomp on the Bulls on the way to the finals, only to lose the championship to the Houston Rockets.

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Of course, then Michael Jordan and the Bulls would resume their reign over the next three seasons and he’d win his first championship only after Jordan was in semi-retirement.

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O’Neal didn’t win Orlando a championship but he made them look like top contenders after defeating MJ himself. For that reason, he’s the first player in the history of Orlando Magic whose number will go up in the rafters. From his rookie era, to beating His Airness and having his number retired, Shaq and Orlando Magic remain a history-making combination.