Ever have self doubt? You know, like when you were a teenager and unsure of yourself in this crazy world?
Everyone does, even the most ferocious dunker in the history of basketball. On the New Heights podcast, Shaquille O’Neal told this story about his first dunk in high school.
You can check out the video segment on YouTube with lots of cursing, or read my lightly edited written version:
I was having a game. Remember I told you Magic Johnson was one of my guys? The tallest guy on the other team is six foot. I’m going to get it, take it off the glass and lay it up. I got 40 by the end of 3.
One time, I crossed a dude up, finger rolled it, and missed. My dad walks on the court with his army fatigues, and he says, “call a timeout.”
“We’re in the middle of the game,” I replied.
“Call the time out.”
I call the time out.
“Come outside.”
We go outside of the gym. “Hey man, what the f*$k are you doing?” he says.
“I’m All-American, I’m working on my Magic…” and before I could say Johnson, WAPP. On the video, Shaq makes a slapping down motion.
“F*$k Magic Johnson. You’re Shaquille O’Neal, start dunking that sh*t. I’m tired of watching that sh*t.”
It hurt, but I can’t go back into the gym crying. But all my boys knew what happened.
Now I’m looking at the coach, and he calls a play. And I say “f*$k that play, give me the ball.” He got me the ball, and boom, I dunk it.
And now my dad is celebrating. “That’s what the f*$k I’m talking about. Kill that little motherf*$ker.”
That was 16 in my junior year, and I was 6’11”. Not that I couldn’t dunk. One time, I tried to dunk in a game, and I missed at 6’11”. Everyone was laughing, so I kind of just shied away from it.
But he took me outside, and touched me up, and I’ve been dunking ever since.
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