How in the world can someone be this strong” – Jerry West recalls how Shaquille O’Neal tore apart the LA Lakers restroom
Shaquille O’Neal is well-known for his amusing and infantile conduct on the sets of NBA on TNT. However, that was not the case when the 15-time NBA All-Star was on the court. If you don’t believe it, Jerry West recently recalled a tale of Shaq letting his emotions fly on ‘The Rich Eisen Show.’
The Hall of Fame guard recounted an incident in which Shaq stormed into the Lakers tunnel after getting ejected from a game in the early minutes. When West came in to check on the ‘Diesel,’ he saw the 7’1” center tearing the doors from the hinges in the Lakers’ restroom.
“I remember another time he gets kicked out of the game, and I go into the locker room to see how he was, and he had torn the doors off of the restroom areas that are protected,” West said. “He said to me, ‘I’ll be happy to pay for it.’ I said ‘No, No, No, you can’t pay for it, but how in the world can someone be this strong to rip these doors off?’ I mean it was crazy. But he’s a fun guy.”
The incident West is referring to dates back to Shaq’s first season (1996-97 season) with the Los Angeles Lakers. After being ejected from the game, the two-time scoring champ was upset in the moment because he felt he was being treated unfairly by NBA officials. As a result, he vented his frustration out in the restroom of the LA Lakers, not only pulling a stall door from its hinges but even breaking mirrors and tossing a chair.
As published by an article in the LA Times, an unnamed Lakers staff member thought that Shaq was going to tear down the entire room. However, this incident only serves to highlight Shaq’s dedication to the game during his time in the NBA. He was known for giving his best on the court and absolutely didn’t tolerate being treated unfairly.
Shaq ripped off five urinals after losing in the playoffs
Shaq’s journey to becoming a three-time NBA Finals MVP and champion was not without challenges. Before his iconic three-peat with Kobe Bryant, he faced criticism that accused him of putting up hollow stats, but he eventually silenced the doubters with his championship success.