One of the most unusual rivalries in NBA history is that of Shaquille O’Neal and David Robinson, particularly due to a mix of fabricated stories, on-court tensions, and an unresolved controversy over a legendary performance.
The Controversial 71-Point Game
Shaquille O’Neal shows that his heart is bigger than his height with nice gesture for random people
The 1994 NBA scoring title came down to the final day of the regular season, and Shaq had a narrow lead over Robinson. Shaq delivered a dominant 32-point, 22-rebound performance for the Orlando Magic, solidifying his case for the title. But in an astonishing turn of events, Robinson exploded for 71 points against the Los Angeles Clippers, blowing away his previous career high by 19 points and snatching the title from Shaq.
Shaq‘s frustration was palpable, as he believed that Robinson‘s performance was more than just a great basketball achievement.
“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.”
Shaq suspected something was off about that game, and for years, he harbored a belief that the game had been orchestrated to help Robinson secure the scoring title.
The conspiracy theory simmered for decades until, last year, Dominique Wilkins dropped a bombshell that seemed to confirm Shaq’s suspicions. In an interview, Wilkins revealed that before the game between the Clippers and the Spurs, the Clippers‘ coach told the team of the plan.
“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.”
This shocking admission gave weight to Shaq‘s long-held belief that the game had been manipulated.
When Shaq saw the clip, his response was one of vindication. “I f***** knew it,” he commented, sharing the post multiple times to ensure the world knew what he had suspected for years.
Even veteran NBA players like Mark Jackson, who was part of the Clippers roster at the time, shared the same sentiment. Jackson reportedly felt disgusted by the orchestrated nature of the game, agreeing that something about the night seemed staged.
On The Big Podcast, Shaq humorously asked about his options.
“Should I sue? On the grounds of point shaving? Tampering?”
His frustration was evident, but watching the game again after Wilkins‘ revelation only solidified his belief that “some shenanigans” were at play.
