What comes to your mind when it is Shaquille O’Neal and David Robinson? Yes, one of the strangest relationships in NBA history, especially if you talk about their on-court days. But the base of it? Early in his career, Shaq made up a story that Robinson had refused to give him an autograph when he was 13. The reason behind this made-up story? Well, it was so that he could use it to play harder against “The Admiral.” Years later, he admitted it was all fake and even apologized. But despite clearing the air, their tension didn’t disappear.
Well, despite the fake rumor out of the way, there was one thing that still needed to be addressed between the two. Years ago, Shaq had questioned Robinson’s legendary 71-point game. Why? He believed the Spurs had orchestrated the performance to secure the scoring title over him. This wasn’t just about pride—Shaq had idolized Michael Jordan, and with MJ playing baseball, he had a chance to prove himself as the league’s top scorer. That opportunity was taken from him, and he never let it go.
Years later, the controversy has now once again surfaced on NBA on TNT during a segment ranking the greatest individual stat lines. When Robinson’s 71-point game appeared, Shaq didn’t hold back. “I want an investigation done now,” he declared. Even Candace Parker called him out, questioning why he voted for a game he thought was rigged! Shaq, however, acknowledged the performance while still believing it was tainted. He stated, “Because it’s still a very impressive 71 points.” Oh, too big an allegation, isn’t it?
Shaquille O Neal In Poland. Shaquille O Neal attends the Hey, This is Shaq Basketball Tournament in Warsaw, Poland, on August 28, 2024. NBA, Basketball Herren, USA legend Shaquille O Neal visits Poland as part of a marketing campaign, promoting his personal brand SHAQ and the latest Reebok collection. Warsaw Poland PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xMarcinxGolbax originalFilename:golba-shaquill240828_npQdx.jpg
O’Neal had every reason to be upset. Going into the last day of the 1993-94 season, he held a slim lead over Robinson. He had just dropped 32 points and 22 rebounds, securing a dominant win for the Orlando Magic. Then, in a shocking turn, Robinson exploded for 71 points—19 more than his previous career high. “That meant I was on his mind. They ran every play for him,” Shaq said. “If I hadn’t been triple-teamed and was selfish and tried to score every time I touched the ball, I could have scored 70, too.”
But was it just great basketball, or was there more at play? That’s where Dominique Wilkins enters the story.
Shaquille O’Neal’s conspiracy theory turns out to be true after 30 years
For decades, Shaquille O’Neal has held onto one bitter memory—the night David Robinson snatched the 1994 scoring title from him. Shaq always believed something was off about that game. However, it was only last year that he finally had some validation.
Last year, Dominique Wilkins shed light on what happened that night. During an interview, Wilkins revealed that before the Clippers faced the Spurs, their coach walked into the locker room and told the team, “Don’t be upset, I’ve been told to take y’all out after the first five minutes… they really want to see David Robinson keep the scoring title in the West.” Wilkins was stunned. The host of the show even called a “timeout” to process the revelation, saying, “That game was fixed!”
When Shaq saw the clip, he didn’t hold back. He commented, “I f***** knew it.” The Big Diesel wasn’t just frustrated—he felt cheated. To make sure the world saw it, he even shared the post multiple times. Shaq’s frustration was understandable. Wilkins wasn’t the only one upset. Veteran guard Mark Jackson, who was on the Clippers at the time, was reportedly disgusted with how the game unfolded. Even he couldn’t deny that something felt staged.
Shaq later joked about the situation on The Big Podcast, asking, “Should I sue? On the grounds of point shaving? Tampering?” He even admitted to rewatching the game after hearing Wilkins’ claim, saying, “It was definitely some shenanigans going on.”
Now that the truth is out, does this change how we view Robinson’s legendary night?
The post Demanding “Investigation,” Shaquille O’Neal Doubles Down on David Robinson’s Alleged ‘Fixed’ Game That Stole His Glory appeared first on EssentiallySports.